11.2 Behaviorism and Identity Theory
5 min read•august 15, 2024
Behaviorism and Identity Theory tackle the mind-body problem from different angles. Behaviorism focuses on observable actions, ignoring inner mental states. It explains behavior through conditioning and environmental factors, providing a scientific framework for studying learning.
Identity Theory, on the other hand, equates mental states with brain states. It argues that every thought or feeling corresponds to a specific neural process. This materialist approach aims to explain consciousness through neuroscience, bridging the gap between mind and brain.
Principles of Behaviorism
Observable Behavior and Conditioning
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- Behaviorism emerged as a reaction to introspective methods in psychology emphasizing observable behavior rather than internal mental states
- developed by explains how behaviors are shaped through reinforcement and punishment
- pioneered by Ivan Pavlov demonstrates how neutral stimuli can elicit conditioned responses through association with unconditioned stimuli (salivating dogs)
- Law of effect proposed by Edward Thorndike states behaviors followed by satisfying consequences are more likely to be repeated
- Example: A child receiving praise for cleaning their room is more likely to clean it again in the future
- Stimulus-response associations form the basis of behaviorist theories emphasizing the importance of observable input-output relationships
- Example: A rat pressing a lever (response) when it sees a light (stimulus) to receive food
Determinism and Environmental Factors
- Behaviorists adopt a deterministic view of human behavior arguing all actions result from prior conditioning and environmental factors
- Aim to predict and control behavior by manipulating environmental variables rejecting the need for mentalistic explanations
- Focus on how external stimuli and consequences shape behavior rather than internal thoughts or feelings
- Example: Studying how different reward schedules affect the frequency of a desired behavior in animals or humans
- Emphasize the role of learning and experience in shaping behavior rather than innate or genetic factors
- Example: Explaining phobias as learned responses to specific stimuli rather than inherent fears
Behaviorism: Power vs Limitations
Explanatory Strengths
- Successfully explains many aspects of learning and behavior modification providing a scientific framework for understanding observable actions
- Particularly effective in developing therapeutic techniques such as systematic desensitization for treating phobias
- Example: Gradually exposing a person with a fear of heights to increasingly high places while teaching relaxation techniques
- Provides clear, measurable methods for studying behavior and learning processes
- Example: Using operant conditioning chambers (Skinner boxes) to study animal learning and motivation
Challenges and Criticisms
- Struggles to account for complex cognitive processes such as problem-solving creativity and language acquisition
- Faces challenges in explaining introspective experiences and the subjective nature of consciousness
- Rejection of mental states limits its ability to address questions of intentionality and the qualitative aspects of mental life
- Difficulty accounting for spontaneous behaviors that occur without apparent external stimuli or reinforcement
- Example: A person suddenly having a creative idea or insight without clear environmental triggers
- Critics argue behaviorism provides an incomplete picture of human psychology by neglecting the role of internal mental processes and subjective experiences
- Example: Inability to fully explain how individuals can learn complex behaviors through observation without direct reinforcement (social learning theory)
Identity Theory: Mind & Brain
Core Principles
- Posits mental states are identical to brain states asserting a one-to-one correspondence between specific mental events and neurophysiological processes
- Claims every type of mental state (pain, belief, desire) is identical to a specific type of brain state or neural activity
- Example: The experience of seeing red is identical to a particular pattern of neural activation in the visual cortex
- Argues for the ontological reduction of mental phenomena to physical processes eliminating the need for dualistic explanations of mind and body
- Distinguishes between (general mental states correspond to specific brain states) and token identity (particular instances of mental states are identical to particular brain states)
Materialist Approach to Consciousness
- Supports the principle of causal closure in physics maintaining all physical effects have sufficient physical causes
- Aims to provide a materialist account of consciousness explaining subjective experiences in terms of objective neurological processes
- Example: Explaining the feeling of pain as identical to the firing of C-fibers in the nervous system
- Argues advances in neuroscience will eventually allow for the complete mapping of mental states onto brain states
- Example: Using fMRI scans to correlate specific thought patterns with brain activity in different regions
Identity Theory: Arguments for & Against
Supporting Arguments
- Provides a parsimonious explanation of mind-body interaction avoiding the problems associated with dualism
- Aligns with scientific naturalism and the success of neuroscientific research in correlating mental phenomena with brain activity
- Example: Studies showing how damage to specific brain areas affects corresponding cognitive functions
- Offers a unified framework for understanding mental and physical phenomena within a single ontological category
- Example: Explaining both physical and mental causation through the same neurophysiological mechanisms
Challenges and Objections
- Issue of argues subjective experiences cannot be fully captured by physical descriptions of brain states
- Example: The "what it's like" to see red cannot be completely explained by describing neural activity
- Multiple realizability objection proposed by Hilary Putnam contends the same mental state can be realized by different physical states across species or even artificial systems
- Example: Pain could potentially be realized in silicon-based AI systems with very different physical structures from human brains
- Kripke's modal argument challenges identity theory by suggesting mental states and brain states have different modal properties
- Example: We can imagine pain existing without C-fibers firing but cannot imagine C-fibers firing without pain
- Explanatory gap argument questions whether a complete physical account can ever fully explain the subjective first-person nature of conscious experience
- Example: How the subjective experience of tasting chocolate emerges from objective neural processes
- Defenders of identity theory respond to multiple realizability by proposing species-specific or structure-specific identities or by adopting a more flexible token identity approach
- Example: Arguing that pain in humans is identical to C-fiber firing while allowing for different physical realizations in other species
Key Terms to Review (16)
A materialist theory of the mind: A materialist theory of the mind posits that mental states and processes are entirely dependent on physical states and processes in the brain. This viewpoint asserts that all psychological phenomena can be understood in terms of physical interactions and properties, dismissing any non-material or supernatural explanations for consciousness. This theory is crucial in understanding perspectives like behaviorism and identity theory, which aim to explain the mind strictly through observable behaviors and brain states.
B.F. Skinner: B.F. Skinner was an influential American psychologist and behaviorist known for his work in operant conditioning, which emphasizes the role of reinforcement and punishment in shaping behavior. He developed the concept of behaviorism, which posits that all behaviors are learned through interactions with the environment, rejecting introspective methods of understanding behavior. His work laid the foundation for understanding how environmental factors can influence actions, making significant contributions to both psychology and education.
Behavioral dispositions: Behavioral dispositions refer to the tendencies or inclinations individuals have to behave in certain ways in response to particular situations. This concept is integral to understanding how behaviorism posits that observable actions can be linked to internal states and mental processes, suggesting that one's dispositions shape identity and actions within various contexts.
Classical conditioning: Classical conditioning is a learning process that occurs when a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a meaningful stimulus, leading to a learned response. This process is fundamental in understanding behavior as it reveals how certain stimuli can trigger responses through association, significantly impacting behaviorism and identity theory.
David Armstrong: David Armstrong was a prominent philosopher known for his contributions to the philosophy of mind, particularly in the areas of behaviorism and identity theory. He is recognized for arguing that mental states can be directly identified with physical states of the brain, which means that thoughts and feelings correspond to particular neurological processes. This perspective played a significant role in shaping contemporary discussions around the relationship between mind and body.
Functionalism: Functionalism is a philosophical theory that posits mental states are defined by their functional roles in a system, rather than by their internal composition. It emphasizes the idea that mental processes can be understood in terms of their relationships to inputs, outputs, and other mental states, making it a key perspective in debates about the mind and its place in the natural world. This view intersects with various theories of mind, particularly regarding behaviorism, computational theories of mind, and discussions about consciousness and qualitative experiences.
Knowledge Argument: The knowledge argument is a philosophical thought experiment that challenges physicalism, suggesting that there are non-physical aspects of consciousness. This argument posits that if a person knows all the physical facts about the brain and the corresponding physical processes, they would still lack knowledge of what it is like to experience certain qualia, or subjective experiences. This thought experiment raises critical questions about the relationship between mind and body, contributing to debates on dualism and the limitations of behaviorism and identity theory.
Logical Positivism: Logical positivism is a philosophical movement that emerged in the early 20th century, advocating that only statements verifiable through empirical observation or logical proof are meaningful. It emphasizes the connection between language, knowledge, and experience, asserting that metaphysical claims are to be rejected as nonsensical. This philosophy is linked to significant discussions about human knowledge, scientific inquiry, and how we understand concepts like causation and mental states.
Methodological behaviorism: Methodological behaviorism is an approach in psychology that focuses solely on observable behaviors as the basis for understanding human actions, disregarding internal mental states as valid subjects of study. This perspective argues that psychological research should be grounded in empirical data obtained through direct observation and experimentation, leading to a more scientific and objective discipline. By emphasizing external behavior, methodological behaviorism sets the stage for later developments in behaviorism and identity theory.
Mind-body identity: Mind-body identity is the philosophical concept asserting that mental states and processes are identical to physical states and processes in the brain. This theory posits that every thought, feeling, or experience corresponds directly to a specific neural configuration or activity, emphasizing the relationship between the mind and the physical body, particularly in understanding consciousness and behavior.
Operant Conditioning: Operant conditioning is a learning process through which the strength of a behavior is modified by reinforcement or punishment. This concept emphasizes how behaviors can be shaped by their consequences, leading to an increase or decrease in the likelihood of the behavior being repeated. It is fundamental in understanding behaviorism, which focuses on observable behaviors rather than internal mental states, and it connects to identity theory by examining how external stimuli influence individual behavior and identity formation.
Psychological states: Psychological states refer to the mental conditions and processes that influence an individual's thoughts, emotions, and behaviors at a given time. These states can include feelings, desires, intentions, beliefs, and other cognitive or emotional experiences that shape how a person interacts with the world around them. In the context of behaviorism and identity theory, psychological states raise questions about how they relate to observable behaviors and the underlying mental processes.
Qualia: Qualia are the subjective, individual experiences of perception and sensation, representing how we perceive the qualities of our experiences, such as the taste of chocolate or the color red. These experiences are inherently personal and difficult to communicate, as they relate to an individual's unique perspective on sensory information, which raises questions about consciousness and the nature of the mind.
Radical behaviorism: Radical behaviorism is a psychological approach that emphasizes the role of environmental factors in shaping behavior, rejecting internal mental states as explanations for actions. It posits that all behaviors, including thoughts and feelings, can be understood through observable stimuli and responses, advocating for the study of behavior as a science rather than relying on introspection or subjective experiences.
The behavior of organisms: The behavior of organisms refers to the actions and reactions of living beings, often in response to their environment, stimuli, or internal conditions. This concept is crucial for understanding how organisms adapt, survive, and interact with one another and their surroundings. It plays a significant role in psychological theories and biological studies, particularly in the context of how mental states and physical actions relate to one another.
Type identity: Type identity is the philosophical position that mental states are identical to specific types of brain states, asserting that for every kind of mental experience, there is a corresponding physical state in the brain. This idea suggests a direct correlation between psychological phenomena and neurological processes, linking the mind closely with physical states of the brain and supporting a materialistic view of consciousness.