famous Behavioral manifesto, "Psychology as the Behaviorist Views It." -Summarize Dr. Watson's now
What is the greatest strength of Behavioralism and, conversely, what is its greatest weakness? Finally,
thought to a layperson who does not have briefly outline how you would describe this school of
.specialized knowledge of psychology
PSYC 565
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DISCUSSION ASSIGNMENT GRADING RUBRIC
Criteria
Levels of Achievement
Content
70%
Advanced
Proficient
Developing
Not Present
Thread –
Content
28 to 30 points
The initial thread meets or exceeds
content requirements:
All key components of the
Discussion are answered in the
thread.
Major points are stated clearly.
Major points are supported by
the following: - 3 citations of
peer-reviewed articles; - Good
examples (pertinent, conceptual,
or personal examples are
acceptable); - Thoughtful
analysis (considering
assumptions, analyzing
implications,
comparing/contrasting
concepts).
Sufficient word count (minimum
500 words) is met.
25 to 27 points
The initial thread meets most of the
content requirements:
All key components of the
Discussion question are answered
in the thread.
Major points are stated clearly.
Major points are supported by the
following: - 3 citations of peer-
reviewed articles; - Good
examples (pertinent, conceptual,
or personal examples are
acceptable); - Thoughtful
analysis (considering
assumptions, analyzing
implications,
comparing/contrasting concepts).
Sufficient word count (minimum
500 words) is met.
1 to 24 points
The initial thread meets some of the
content requirements:
All key components of the
Discussion question are answered
in the thread.
Major points are stated clearly.
Major points are supported by the
following: - 3 citations of peer-
reviewed articles; - Good
examples (pertinent, conceptual,
or personal examples are
acceptable); - Thoughtful
analysis (considering
assumptions, analyzing
implications,
comparing/contrasting concepts).
Sufficient word count (minimum
500 words) is met.
0 points
Not Present
PSYC 565
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Replies –
Content
11 to 12 points
Replies meet or exceed content
requirements:
Sufficient word count (minimum
200 words for each reply).
Major points are supported by
the following: Good examples
(pertinent, conceptual, or
personal examples are
acceptable); Thoughtful analysis
(considering assumptions,
analyzing implications,
comparing/contrasting
concepts).
Appropriate "netiquette"
manners (For example, no name
calling or labeling another
student's idea a derogatory term,
such as "stupid" or "dumb,"
even when disagreeing-See
Student Expectations) are used.
Brings clarity to issues being
discussed relating issues to the
textbook, journal articles, and
the Bible (per the assignment).
10 points
Replies meet most of the content
requirements:
Sufficient word count (minimum
200 words for each reply).
Major points are supported by the
following: Good examples
(pertinent, conceptual, or
personal examples are
acceptable); Thoughtful analysis
(considering assumptions,
analyzing implications,
comparing/contrasting concepts).
Appropriate "netiquette" manners
(For example, no name calling or
labeling another student's idea a
derogatory term, such as "stupid"
or "dumb," even when
disagreeing-See Student
Expectations) are used.
Brings clarity to issues being
discussed relating issues to the
textbook, journal articles, and the
Bible (per the assignment).
1 to 9 points
Replies meet some of the content
requirements:
Sufficient word count (minimum
200 words for each reply).
Major points are supported by the
following: Good examples
(pertinent, conceptual, or
personal examples are
acceptable); Thoughtful analysis
(considering assumptions,
analyzing implications,
comparing/contrasting concepts).
Appropriate "netiquette" manners
(For example, no name calling or
labeling another student's idea a
derogatory term, such as "stupid"
or "dumb," even when
disagreeing-See Student
Expectations) are used.
Brings clarity to issues being
discussed relating issues to the
textbook, journal articles, and the
Bible (per the assignment).
0 points
Not Present
Structure
30%
Advanced
Proficient
Developing
Not Present
Thread –
Structure
10 points
The initial thread meets or exceeds
the requirements: Clear, logical flow
to post. Spelling and grammar are
used. Current APA format is used.
8 to 9 points
The initial thread meets most of the
requirements: Clear, logical flow to
post. Spelling and grammar are used.
Current APA format is used.
1 to 7 points
The initial thread meets some of the
requirements: Clear, logical flow to
post. Spelling and grammar are used.
Current APA format is used.
0 points
Not Present
PSYC 565
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Replies –
Structure
8 points
Replies meet or exceed structure
requirements: Proper spelling and
grammar are used. Current APA
format is used.
7 points
Replies meet most of the structure
requirements: Proper spelling and
grammar are used. Current APA
format is used.
1 to 6 points
Replies meet some of the structure
requirements: Proper spelling and
grammar are used. Current APA
format is used.
0 points
Not Present
1
Behavioural Manifesto
Name
Institution
Course
Instructor
Date
2
Watson, in 1913 presented an article on behaviourism at a conference called “Psychology
as the Behaviourists View it” and commonly known as the behavioural manifesto (All-About-
Psychology.com, 2020). This piece was afterwards published and up to date it is used as the
reference concerning the basis of human and animal behaviour. As explained in the article, the
behavioural manifesto is an experimental branch of natural science that is concerned with the
control and prediction of behaviour. The observation is done without the reference of
consciousness. According to Watson, all behaviours of both humans and animals can be leaned
through a process known as conditioning. In this process of conditioning, the behaviour of
humans and animals is placed on the same level, creating the notion that there is a similarity on
how the animals and humans behave (Moore, 2017). Watson explains that both humans and
animals learn their different behaviours through their interactions with the environment. As the
article explains, behaviour is based on a reaction and response to the stimulus in the
environment. This is the basic principle of behaviour in animals and humans however complex
the behaviour is. Watson was dissatisfied with the idea that psychology groups itself as a natural
science but cannot observe the behaviour of organisms. The goal of the behavioural manifesto
was then to study behaviour in an observable and systematic manner.
The greatest strength in behaviourism is that it makes it possible to measure and clearly
observe the behaviour of humans and animals (Brau, et al, 2020). The principle of behaviourism
as a natural science is to learn behaviour through research and collecting data to allow the
quantification of behaviour. Therapeutic interventions such as behavioural analysis, discrete
training and token economies can also be employed in behaviourism to help both adults and
children change their harmful or maladaptive behaviour. The greatest weakness is that,
behaviourism is argued to be only one dimensional and does not entirely understand the human
3
behaviour (Cherry, 2021). Behaviourism is based on a stimulus-reaction principle but does not
account for the thoughts, moods and feelings of humans. For example, Freud felt that
behaviourism failed to include the feelings, moods and unconscious thoughts that influence
people’s actions or reactions to stimulus in the environment. The brain is powerful and
influences the human actions and therefore cannot be forgotten as the case in this theory. Also,
behaviourism does not account for other forms of learning such as punishment and
reinforcement.
In simple terms, the behavioural manifesto aims at studying the behaviour of humans and
animals, finding how we are able to react to different situations in life and how we behave in
general. According to Watson, how humans or animals behave is determined by what they
encounter in the environment in their interactions. For example, as humans, when there is
danger, like fire, we tend to move away from the fire zone in order to keep safe. This is a
behaviour that results from interacting with the environment and facing danger. Watson believes
that with this knowledge of certain stimuli in the environment such as danger, our reaction in this
case, moving away can be predicted, and consequently controlled. Another example is when we
smell something foul, we cover our noses to stop the detection of the smell by our noses. Such
behaviour results from pure interactions with the environment and we react according to the
stimulus experienced. Behaviour can be therefore systematically observed and analysed in
psychology studies.
4
References
All-About-Psychology.com, (2020). Psychology As The Behaviorist Views It. Retrieved from
https://www.all-about-psychology.com/psychology-as-the-behaviorist-views-it.html
Brau, B., Fox, N., & Robinson, E. (2020). Behaviorism. The Students' Guide to Learning Design
and Research. Retrieved from https://edtechbooks.org/studentguide/behaviorism
Cherry K. (2021). History and Key Concepts of Behavioral Psychology. Retrieved from
https://www.verywellmind.com/behavioral-psychology-4157183
Moore, J. (2017). John B. Watson's classical S–R behaviorism. The Journal of Mind and
Behavior, 1-34. Retrieved from https://www.jstor.org/stable/44631526
