• Influenced behaviorism: Pavlov’s work significantly impacted John B. Watson and B.F. Skinner, who built upon his ideas to develop behaviorism as a dominant school of thought in psychology.

Watson’s Behaviorism vs. Other Approaches

Watson’s Behaviorism:

• Focuses on observable behavior: Watson believed only objectively observable behaviors, not internal thoughts or feelings, should be studied in psychology.
• Learning through conditioning: Similar to Pavlov, Watson emphasized the role of conditioned responses in shaping behavior.
• Nurture over nature: Watson downplayed the influence of genetics and instincts, arguing that behavior is primarily learned through environmental experiences.

Comparison:

• Operational positivism: Both Watson’s behaviorism and operational positivism emphasize objective observation and measurement in scientific inquiry.
• Functionalism: While functionalism, like behaviorism, focuses on how behavior helps organisms adapt to their environment, functionalists also considered mental processes underlying behavior.

Contrast:

• Focus: Operational positivism is a broader philosophical stance on scientific methods, whereas behaviorism is a specific psychological school.
• Mental processes: Operational positivism doesn’t explicitly reject studying mental processes, while behaviorism deliberately avoids them.

Watson vs. Skinner: Similarities and Differences

Similarities:

• Both are behaviorists: Both Watson and Skinner focus on observable behavior and the role of conditioning in learning.
• Emphasis on environment: They believe environmental factors shape behavior through conditioning.

Differences:

• Type of conditioning: Watson focused on classical conditioning, while Skinner emphasized operant conditioning, where behavior is reinforced or punished.
• Role of internal states: Watson completely rejected studying internal states, while Skinner acknowledged their potential influence but argued for studying their behavioral effects.

Greater Influence:

Skinner’s operant conditioning has arguably had a broader impact on psychology due to:

• Specificity: It provides a more specific framework for understanding and predicting behavior.
• Applications: Operant conditioning principles are widely applied in areas like animal training, education, and behavior modification therapy.

Psychology’s Eclectic Landscape

Psychology as an Eclectic Science:

Agree: Psychology does have an eclectic view of behavior. Different theoretical perspectives offer unique lenses to understanding behavior, leading to a richer understanding of the human mind.

Research vs. Applied Psychology:

• Research: May explore a wider range of theoretical perspectives to fully understand a phenomenon.
• Applied Psychology: Often focuses on more specific, evidence-based approaches with proven effectiveness in addressing real-world problems.