PSY FPX 6110 Assessment 2

Abstract

Behaviorism and cognitive theory diverge on the nature of human behavior. Skinner’s radical behaviorism interweaves thinking and doing with behaviorism and is concerned primarily with the key concepts of operant conditioning. Behaviorists are concerned with quantifiable and observable behavior and stimuli and have developed various learning and treatment interventions. Cognitive theory focuses more on the role of internal processes in creating behavior, primarily the role of distorted assumptions in emotional illness. This essay contrasts and compares Skinner’s behaviorism and cognitive learning theory with Greta’s case.

Learning Theory Comparison—How Behaviorist and Cognitive Learning Theorists Look at Greta’s Case

Behaviorism and cognitive theory differ when describing human conduct, with behaviorism having emerged as a result of observations but with a different emphasis. Behaviorism is everything about environmental influences, while cognitive psychology deals with more internal mental processes in the learning process. With Greta’s case as a topic of analysis, this paper articulates Skinner’s behaviorism and cognitive theory of learning.

Learning Theory: Behaviorism vs. Cognitive Theory

Skinner’s Behavior Theory

1. F. Skinner, one of the top behaviorists, thinks that behavior is determined by learned experiences following the stimulus-response model. Skinner is concerned with observable behavior and conducts experiments to test laws of learning. Skinner’s theory of operant conditioning describes acquired response, conditioned reinforcement, generalization, and extinction. Reward strengthens behavior, and punishment weakens it. Skinner’s theory discounts human mental processes and treats the brain as a black box. Even with this limitation, behavior modification successfully uses operant conditioning principles across different situations.

Cognitive Learning Theory

Cognitive psychology views the mind as an information processor, both the external factors and internal mental functioning. Cognitive theory examines how information is perceived, processed, stored, and retrieved, employing strict experiments to make inferences regarding cognitive processes. It focuses on logical thought alone, though, and overlooks emotional, imaginative, and interpersonal aspects. While these are limitations, cognitive theory has extensive uses in instruction and treatment and is concerned with the contribution of erroneous thinking to psychological pathology.

The Greta Case Seen by a Radical Behaviorist

Greta developed cynophobia through experiences of trauma with a black dog in childhood. Her fear-conditioned avoidance responses yielded elevated anxiety levels. Exposure therapy, as recommended by behavior therapists, aims to desensitize people to feared stimuli at a gradual rate.

The Greta Case Seen by a Cognitive Theorist

Cognitive theorists emphasize the place of defective thinking in psychological disturbances. Greta’s avoidance is the consequence of negative dog beliefs, which perpetuate the fear. Cognitive therapy has the potential to alter such beliefs to curb anxiety.

Conclusion

Behaviorism and cognitive theory are significant theories of human behavior. Behaviorism deals with external stimulus-behavioral reactions, whereas cognitive theory discusses internal cognitive processes. The combination of the two may enhance interventions, as can be seen in Greta’s cynophobia case.

PSY FPX 6110 Assessment 2 Learning Theory Comparison 

Grusec, J. E. (1992). Social learning theory and developmental psychology: The legacies of Robert Sears and Albert Bandura. Developmental Psychology, 28(5), 776. doi: 10.1037/10155-016

McLeod, S. (2020). Cognitive Psychology. SimplyPsychology. Retrieved from 

https://www.simplypsychology.org/cognitive.html

Skinner, B. F. (1971). Beyond freedom and dignity. Penguin Books.