PSYC 102 Quiz 1 Study Guide: Behaviorism vs Psychoanalysis

Introduction

Welcome to your study guide for the PSYC 102 Quiz 1 at GCU, focusing on two foundational schools of thought in psychology: Behaviorism and Psychoanalysis. Understanding the key differences and similarities between behaviorism vs psychoanalysis is crucial for your quiz and for grasping the broader landscape of psychological theories. This guide will provide a clear and concise overview to help you prepare effectively.

Behaviorism: The Science of Observable Behavior

Core Principles

Behaviorism is a school of psychology that emphasizes the study of observable behaviors and the role of the environment in shaping those behaviors. It largely disregards internal mental states, focusing instead on what can be directly measured and seen.

• Observable Behavior: Behaviorists believe psychology should only study what can be directly observed and measured – actions and responses.
• Environmental Determinism: Behavior is primarily learned from the environment through conditioning. Experiences shape who we are.
• Learning: Learning occurs through associations between stimuli and responses.
• Rejection of Internal Mental States: Thoughts, feelings, and emotions are considered subjective and not suitable for scientific study. The “mind” is a black box.

Key Figures in Behaviorism

• John B. Watson: Often considered the founder of behaviorism, famous for the “Little Albert” experiment demonstrating classical conditioning of fear.
• Ivan Pavlov: Discovered classical conditioning through his experiments with dogs and salivation responses to stimuli.
• B.F. Skinner: Developed operant conditioning, emphasizing the role of consequences (reinforcement and punishment) in shaping behavior.

Key Concepts in Behaviorism

• Classical Conditioning (Pavlovian Conditioning): Learning through association. A neutral stimulus becomes associated with a naturally occurring stimulus, eliciting a conditioned response.

  • Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS): A stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers a response (e.g., food in Pavlov’s experiment).
  • Unconditioned Response (UCR): The natural response to the UCS (e.g., salivation to food).
  • Conditioned Stimulus (CS): A previously neutral stimulus that, after association with the UCS, comes to trigger a conditioned response (e.g., bell in Pavlov’s experiment).
  • Conditioned Response (CR): The learned response to the CS (e.g., salivation to the bell).

• Operant Conditioning (Skinnerian Conditioning): Learning through consequences. Behaviors are strengthened or weakened depending on the consequences that follow them.

  • Reinforcement: Any consequence that increases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated.
    • Positive Reinforcement: Adding something desirable to increase behavior (e.g., giving a treat to a dog for sitting).
    • Negative Reinforcement: Removing something undesirable to increase behavior (e.g., stopping nagging when a child cleans their room).
  • Punishment: Any consequence that decreases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated.
    • Positive Punishment: Adding something undesirable to decrease behavior (e.g., scolding a child for misbehaving).
    • Negative Punishment: Removing something desirable to decrease behavior (e.g., taking away phone privileges for breaking curfew).

Strengths of Behaviorism

• Scientific Rigor: Focus on observable and measurable behaviors allows for controlled experiments and empirical research.
• Practical Applications: Behaviorist principles have been successfully applied in therapy (behavior therapy, applied behavior analysis), education, and animal training.
• Clear and Simple Principles: Behaviorism provides straightforward explanations of learning and behavior.

Weaknesses of Behaviorism

• Oversimplification of Behavior: Ignores the complexity of human thought, emotions, and motivations.
• Limited Scope: Struggles to explain complex behaviors like language acquisition and creativity.
• Ethical Concerns: Some behaviorist techniques, especially in early research, raised ethical questions about manipulation and control.
• Ignoring Cognitive Processes: By neglecting internal mental processes, behaviorism provides an incomplete picture of human psychology.

Psychoanalysis: Exploring the Unconscious Mind

Core Principles

Psychoanalysis, pioneered by Sigmund Freud, is a school of psychology that emphasizes the role of the unconscious mind in shaping behavior and personality. It posits that hidden desires, fears, and conflicts, often stemming from childhood experiences, drive our actions.

• The Unconscious Mind: A vast reservoir of thoughts, feelings, memories, and desires that are outside of conscious awareness but exert a powerful influence on behavior.
• Early Childhood Experiences: Freud believed that experiences in early childhood, particularly psychosexual stages, are critical in shaping adult personality.
• Psychic Determinism: All behavior is meaningful and determined by unconscious drives. Nothing is random.
• Emphasis on Internal Conflict: Personality is shaped by ongoing conflicts between different parts of the psyche.

Key Figures in Psychoanalysis

• Sigmund Freud: The founder of psychoanalysis, developed theories on the unconscious mind, psychosexual stages, and defense mechanisms.

Key Concepts in Psychoanalysis

• Levels of Consciousness:

  • Conscious: What we are currently aware of.
  • Preconscious: Thoughts and memories that are not currently in awareness but can be easily retrieved.
  • Unconscious: The deepest level, containing repressed desires, fears, and conflicts that are inaccessible to conscious awareness.

• The Structure of Personality (The Psyche):

  • Id: The primitive and instinctual part of the mind that operates on the pleasure principle, seeking immediate gratification of needs and desires.
  • Ego: The rational part of the mind that operates on the reality principle, mediating between the id and the external world. It aims to satisfy the id’s desires in realistic and socially acceptable ways.
  • Superego: The moralistic part of the mind that represents internalized societal and parental standards of right and wrong (conscience). It strives for perfection and can induce feelings of guilt and shame.

• Psychosexual Stages of Development: Freud proposed that personality develops through a series of psychosexual stages, each focused on a different erogenous zone. Fixation at any stage can lead to specific personality traits in adulthood.

  • Oral Stage (0-18 months): Focus on mouth; sucking, biting. Fixation can lead to oral habits (smoking, overeating) or dependency.
  • Anal Stage (18-36 months): Focus on anus; toilet training, control. Fixation can lead to anal-retentive (orderly, controlling) or anal-expulsive (messy, rebellious) personalities.
  • Phallic Stage (3-6 years): Focus on genitals; Oedipus/Electra complex, identification with the same-sex parent. Fixation can lead to difficulties in relationships and gender identity.
  • Latency Stage (6 years to puberty): Sexual urges are repressed; focus on social and intellectual development.
  • Genital Stage (puberty onwards): Mature sexual interests and relationships.

• Defense Mechanisms: Unconscious psychological strategies used by the ego to protect itself from anxiety arising from conflicts between the id, ego, and superego, or from external reality. Examples include:

  • Repression: Unconsciously blocking unacceptable thoughts, feelings, and memories from awareness.
  • Denial: Refusing to accept reality or facts.
  • Projection: Attributing one’s own unacceptable thoughts or feelings to others.
  • Displacement: Redirecting unacceptable impulses towards a less threatening target.
  • Rationalization: Creating seemingly logical explanations to justify unacceptable behaviors or feelings.
  • Sublimation: Channeling unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable and constructive behaviors.

Strengths of Psychoanalysis

• Comprehensive Theory: Offers a broad framework for understanding personality, motivation, and psychological disorders.
• Emphasis on the Unconscious: Highlights the importance of unconscious processes, which are now recognized as significant in modern psychology.
• Influence on Therapy: Psychoanalysis and its derivatives have had a lasting impact on psychotherapy, emphasizing insight and understanding of underlying conflicts.

Weaknesses of Psychoanalysis

• Lack of Empirical Support: Many psychoanalytic concepts are difficult to test scientifically, and empirical evidence for its effectiveness is limited.
• Subjectivity and Interpretation: Psychoanalysis relies heavily on interpretation, which can be subjective and lack objectivity.
• Overemphasis on Childhood and Sexuality: Critics argue that Freud overemphasized the role of childhood experiences and sexual drives in personality development.
• Lengthy and Expensive Therapy: Traditional psychoanalysis is a long-term and intensive process, making it less accessible to many.
• Cultural and Gender Bias: Freud’s theories have been criticized for being culturally biased and reflecting the societal norms of Victorian Europe, and for potential gender biases.

Behaviorism vs. Psychoanalysis: A Comparative Analysis

Feature	Behaviorism	Psychoanalysis
Focus	Observable behavior	Unconscious mind, internal conflicts
Determinants of Behavior	Environment, learning	Unconscious drives, early childhood experiences
Nature vs. Nurture	Strong emphasis on nurture	Interaction of nature and nurture
Consciousness	Minimizes or ignores consciousness	Central role of the unconscious
Methodology	Experimental, objective observation	Clinical observation, interpretation, case studies
Key Figures	Watson, Pavlov, Skinner	Freud
Therapeutic Approach	Behavior Therapy (e.g., exposure therapy)	Psychoanalytic Therapy (e.g., dream analysis)
View of Human Nature	Humans are shaped by their environment	Humans are driven by unconscious desires and conflicts
Scientific Validity	More empirically testable	Less empirically testable
Emphasis	Learning, conditioning	Personality development, motivation, defense mechanisms

Conclusion

Behaviorism and psychoanalysis represent distinct and often contrasting perspectives within psychology. Behaviorism provides a scientific approach to understanding behavior based on observable actions and environmental influences. Psychoanalysis delves into the complexities of the unconscious mind and the impact of early experiences.

For your PSYC 102 Quiz 1, focus on understanding the core principles, key figures, and major concepts of both behaviorism and psychoanalysis. Be prepared to compare and contrast these two schools of thought, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses. Good luck with your quiz!