Learning Principles

Module 3

Does this apply to humans?

Watson applied the techniques of animal research, which had become very popular, to his work with humans. One obvious difference was that humans appeared to think. If thinking was important, and if thinking was a mediator of human behavior, than the rules developed for behavior in animals could not be directly applied to humans. Watson resolved this potential problem by redefining mental concepts (which he believed were unnecessary in understanding behavior) as behavioral responses. Thinking was called subvocal speech, and feelings were termed a "glandular reaction." Through this redefinition process, Watson was able to equate humans with dogs.

Looking around at civilization, it appears obvious that humans are somewhat more complex than our canine friends, so Watson and others extended the theory to explain a variety of human conditions. Human personality, they argued, was developed through the conditioning of various reflexes. When born, infants have 3 responses: fear, rage, love. As the infant interacts with the environment, these 3 basic responses are gradually conditioned and paired with increasing numbers of stimuli in the environment. Ultimately, the adults emotional life is seen as simply a response to years of conditioning of these three responses.