011 - Behaviorism, Operant Conditioning and Positive Psychology
01/13/25 • 17 min
In the last episode, I introduced behaviorism, which took a strikingly different approach to human learning and development by basically assuming that everything we are on the inside is somehow learned from the environment, except for some of the most basic things we need for survival. Our inner life and the reasons we give for our decisions are more or less illusions. What we are is what we are conditioned by our environment to be. I started with classical conditioning, Pavlov, dogs, and scaring babies. Today I am going to move on to operant conditioning with Skinner, Thorndike and Seligman who liked to put animals into boxes and at times even shock them into complacency.
Referenced resources can be found within the show transcripts at https://psydactic_caps.buzzsprout.com
Feedback can be emailed to [email protected] OR submitted via a form at https://psydactic.com.
This is not medical advice. Please see a licensed physician for any personal questions regarding your own or your child's health.
In the last episode, I introduced behaviorism, which took a strikingly different approach to human learning and development by basically assuming that everything we are on the inside is somehow learned from the environment, except for some of the most basic things we need for survival. Our inner life and the reasons we give for our decisions are more or less illusions. What we are is what we are conditioned by our environment to be. I started with classical conditioning, Pavlov, dogs, and scaring babies. Today I am going to move on to operant conditioning with Skinner, Thorndike and Seligman who liked to put animals into boxes and at times even shock them into complacency.
Referenced resources can be found within the show transcripts at https://psydactic_caps.buzzsprout.com
Feedback can be emailed to [email protected] OR submitted via a form at https://psydactic.com.
This is not medical advice. Please see a licensed physician for any personal questions regarding your own or your child's health.
Previous Episode
010 - Behaviorism and Classical Conditioning
I have so far discussed some of the early psychosexual, psychosocial and cognitive approaches to child development, but I would be remiss if I did not also mention a group of theorists who attempted to study humanity by completely ignoring the fact that they have thoughts and emotions. The behavioralists tried to simplify the study of humans by massively simplifying their assumptions about humans. In fact, they are primarily criticized for vastly oversimplifying humans. For instance, they assumed that behaviors were basically just reactions to the environment without any deeper meaning. These responses are learned based on environmental inputs. Whatever else is happening on the inside is either irrelevant or extraneous. All we can really see are behaviors, so we should only study behavior. This episode focuses on Classical Conditioning.
Referenced resources can be found within the show transcripts at https://psydactic_caps.buzzsprout.com
Feedback can be emailed to [email protected] OR submitted via a form at https://psydactic.com.
This is not medical advice. Please see a licensed physician for any personal questions regarding your own or your child's health.
Next Episode
012 - Intellectual Disability
This episode begins with a case vignette about a 7-year-old boy, Tommy, who exhibits global developmental delays and impaired adaptive functioning. Dr. O'Leary explores the DSM-5 criteria for ID, emphasizing deficits in intellectual functions and adaptive functioning during the developmental period. Severity levels are based on adaptive functioning and range from mild to profound. The episode distinguishes ID from other neurodevelopmental disorders and highlights the importance of a comprehensive assessment and individualized support. Key points include recognizing comorbidities, heterogeneity, and focusing on strengths.
Referenced resources can be found within the show transcripts at https://psydactic_caps.buzzsprout.com
Feedback can be emailed to [email protected] OR submitted via a form at https://psydactic.com.
This is not medical advice. Please see a licensed physician for any personal questions regarding your own or your child's health.
PsyDactic - Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Board Study Edition - 011 - Behaviorism, Operant Conditioning and Positive Psychology
Transcript
The following is a summary and outline of this episode.
011 - Operant conditioning to positive psychology
Welcome to PsyDactic - CAPs board study edition. I am your host, Dr. O'Leary, a child and adolescent psychiatry fellow in the national capital region. This is a podcast I designed to help myself and other CAPs fellows study for their boards. Anyone interested in human development and mental health will likely also get something out of it. For a run-down on how it is produced, plea
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