| Almost everyone would
agree that learning is very important to human behavior, based
on the many naturalistic observations of human learning we all
have. Learning is so important in determining the phenomena
of human behavior that no one could mistake that fact. No matter
how fully one feels that many aspects of human behavior are
determined by biological conditions (genetics, brain structure
and function, past evolutionary inheritance, and such), there
is the general recognition that learning plays an important
role. That being the case the study of the effects of learning
on human behavior must certainly be central in psychology. Moreover,
it would be expected that psychology’s systematic study
of basic learning and behavior would provide basic principles
for considering human behavior.
Psychological behaviorism takes that position, assuming that
all complex human behavior is learned (or at least involves
learning).(This does not include reflexes, such as pupil dilation
to dim light, that are built into the human structure.) This
is actually an empirical conclusion, not an assumption. Because
it is based on extensive PB research and the work of others
that derived from or further developed this research, as well
as from the many analyses of the works of others that have
been incorporated into PB. The position is that the specific
behavioral skills, ranging from beginning speech and walking
and toilet training to genius in athletic, musical, mathematical,
scientific, or literary performances depend upon learning,
very complex, long term, continuing learning. Not only are
individual behaviors learned but also personality characteristics,
traits, abilities, ambitions, interests, attitudes, and temperaments.
PB in elaborating this approach has a number of levels of
study.
Continue to Levels of Study: Basic Learning
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