Learning Principles

Module 3

A criticism of classical conditioning

One big problem with early behaviorism was the difficulty that researchers had trying to demonstrate that CR's developed into more complex voluntary behaviors, personality traits, or other complicated human interactions. At the level of autonomic responses (i.e. fear, pupil dilation), the research is clear -- the model holds. But as applied to more complex phenomenon, it is weak.
However, the theory remained popular because it is easily researched, the principles are easily applied, and there is some novelty in the ability the model provides those who understand, in the capacity to influence the behavior of others.