psychology – Page 3 – Arhe Vaninetti

February 16, 2023February 27, 2023

Skinner (1948) Critique: “‘Superstition’ in the Pigeon”

Skinner, B.F. (1948). ‘Superstition’ in the Pigeon.

Arhe Vaninetti
Research Methods and Statistics, PSY 301, Pacific University, Oregon
February 14, 2023

In Skinner’s (1948) classical example of behaviorism, the question of random conditioning in pigeons is explored in relation to consistency and extinction of the behavior over time. While Skinner did not set out to explicitly condition a certain behavior or combination of behaviors, he wound up exploring the threat of extinction and re-conditioning on a particular behavior. During this study, Skinner set up a random interval system to feed hungry pigeons. Because the pigeons were on rationed food, they were eager to continually eat for the duration of the experiment, with Skinner stating that they were on 75% of their typical diet. When the food was presented at random intervals, the pigeons began expressing random behaviors that they associated with receiving food. This classical conditioning created various random behaviors in 6 of the 8 experimental pigeons, including spinning, rocking, flapping, and head jerking.

Continue reading “Skinner (1948) Critique: “‘Superstition’ in the Pigeon””

February 16, 2023February 27, 2023

Diamond (1964) Critique: “The Effects of an Enriched Environment on the Histology of the Rat Cerebral Cortex”

Diamond, M.C., Krech, D., & Rosenzweig, M.R. (1964). The Effects of an Enriched Environment on the Histology of the Rat Cerebral Cortex

Arhe Vaninetti
Research Methods and Statistics, PSY 301, Pacific University, Oregon
February 6, 2023

Diamond et al.’s (1964) study on cognitive enrichment processes was a simple yet groundbreaking study for both the study of psychology and for the development of animal welfare. Specifically regarding brain plasticity and habitat enrichment, Diamond et al. (1964) were able to conclude that the environment can shape the brain’s structure and capabilities. The inspiration for this study originated from the notion that animals raised in enriched environments were able to have increased cognitive capabilities, including improved learning and memory performance. Diamond et al. (1964) used randomized sampling from a University of California laboratory rat colony to select 11 pairs of male rats in the first experiment, and 9 pairs of male rats in the second experiment.

Continue reading “Diamond (1964) Critique: “The Effects of an Enriched Environment on the Histology of the Rat Cerebral Cortex””

February 16, 2023February 27, 2023

Harlow (1958) Critique: “The Nature of Love”

Harlow, H., (1958). The Nature of Love.

Arhe Vaninetti

Research Methods and Statistics, PSY 301, Pacific University, Oregon

February 6, 2023

Harlow’s groundbreaking research on the nature of attachment and affection between baby rhesus macaque monkeys and their surrogate, experimental mothers was established due to a lack of understanding on evolutionary love. Harlow found the existing psychological literature on basic needs to be lacking on the essential ingredient of love, affection and attachment. Viewed holistically, Harlow claimed that love was not a tertiary need of these neonatal monkeys, but instead a primary drive comparable to hunger and thirst. As Harlow mentions at the beginning of the research, he was interested in human-based needs for love, but could not commit to the research due to poor motor skills in the human infant and due to confounding variables.

Continue reading “Harlow (1958) Critique: “The Nature of Love””

February 16, 2023February 27, 2023

Ainsworth and Bell (1970) Critique: “Attachment, Exploration, and Separation — Illustrated by the Behavior of One-year-olds in a Strange Situation”

Salter Ainsworth, M.D. & Bell, S.M. (1970). Attachment, Exploration, and Separation — Illustrated by the Behavior of One-year old’s in a Strange Situation.

Arhe Vaninetti

Research Methods and Statistics, PSY 301, Pacific University, Oregon

February 6, 2023

For Mary Ainsworth, a student of John Bowlby, the theory of attachment was not fleshed out enough to be generalizable to infants outside of the insecure realm. Summarized in Ainsworth & Bell’s (1970) article is the idea that attachment stems from ethological and evolutionary viewpoints that suggest that attachment is a mechanism of survival. When successful, attachment promotes exploratory behavior, parent-seeking behavior, and later reassurance in the infant’s sense of self. At the time, Ainsworth had been branching off of Bowlby’s work with insecurely attached children who had experienced neglect, abuse, or inconsistency in receiving care. From this, Ainsworth asked whether or not the categories of attachment were universal or categorical in infants who experienced different levels of care and attentiveness. This article found that among proximity-seeking behaviors, contact-maintaining behaviors, proximity-avoiding behaviors, contact-resisting behavior, and search behaviors (i.e., searching for the parent who participated in the study), infants who exhibited inconsistent or atypical responses to the mother’s return were categorized as insecure-ambivalent or detached. Continue reading “Ainsworth and Bell (1970) Critique: “Attachment, Exploration, and Separation — Illustrated by the Behavior of One-year-olds in a Strange Situation””