Movement Between Schools of Thought - Essay Example

Plato and Aristotle There have been many psychologists that have pioneered numerous theories concerning the human condition and what motivates man. Sigmund Freud was among the first to revolutionize psychological theory. However, B. F. Skinner and John Watson furthered the understanding of human psychological theory through development of the behaviorist theory (Boyd & Bee, 2006). John Watson’s theories on behaviorism were most popular between the 1920s and 1930s and he pioneered his work with experiments based on the theories of Ivan Pavlov (DeMar, 1989).

Skinner’s theories were based on his research regarding a term he called “operant conditioning”, which referred to a type of learning based on positive and negative reinforcement of actions or behaviors (Cherry, 2011). Behaviorist theorists believe that human actions are the results of conditioned responses to direct or indirect stimuli and these behaviors can be changed or altered by applying new stimuli that will supplant the old ways the individual is accustomed to (DeMar, 1989). Denouncing mentalistic concepts of consciousness, Watson strongly believed that actions were instinctual reactions involving limited aspects of the cognitive process and biological constraints (Myers, 2008).

Based on the theories of Edward L. Thorndike, Skinner designed experiments to test his theory of operant conditioning using rats and proved that behaviors can be shaped and manipulated using various positive and negative stimuli (Myers, 2008). Behaviorist theory was spurned by the growing belief that all behaviors, those of humans and animals, were the result of behaviorist conditioning (Graham, 2010). Psychologists that studied these philosophies developed numerous learning techniques that have been of benefit to educators.

References Boyd, H. & Bee, D. (2006). Adult development. Boston: Pearson. Cherry, K. (2011). B. F. Skinner Biography (1904-1990). About.com Guide. Retrieved July 21, 2011 from http://psychology.about.com/od/profilesofmajorthinkers/p/bio_skinner.htm DeMar, G. (1989, April). Behaviorism. Retrieved July 21, 2011 from http://www.forerunner.com/forerunner/X0497_DeMar_-_Behaviorism.html Graham, G. (2010). Behaviorism. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy Edward N. Zalta (ed.). Retrieved July 21, 2011 from http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2010/entries/behaviorism/ Myers, D.G. (2008).

Exploring psychology, 7th ed. New York: Worth Publishers.