PSY 181 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Behaviorism, Classical Conditioning, Pineal Gland

• School: University of Rochester
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSY 181
• Professor: C H R I S T O P H E R N I E M I E C

Document Summary

Mechanistic theories view people as machinesonly material and efficient causes are operative. There is no purpose or meaning behind behavior; behavior is not telic. Humans are controlled by outside forces, so there is no continuity to our behavior beyond the present set of experiences. Aristotle argued that behaving organisms possess a soul that animates the organism with life and energy. He proposed three types of souls that living things can have: Vegetative soul: (in plants) allows for growth and reproduction. Sensitive soul: (in animals) allows for movement and basic emotions and responses to stimuli. Rational soul: unique to humans, is eternal. Focused on physics and biology of the organism. He disagreed with aristotle"s view of the three souls and he began the tradition of mechanism. Starting point for mechanistic theory: reflex arc/stimulus-response model. All animals are machines and we behave in automatic, mechanical ways.