Edward Tolman Theory of Purposive Behaviorism

Behaviorism: John B. Watson & BF Skinner

What is Behaviorism?

Behaviorism is a theoretical approach to psychology that focuses on observable behavior. It has been around for quite some time, but was first introduced by John B. Watson in 1913 through his book titled “Psychology as the Behaviorist Views it”. Since then, numerous studies have focused on different aspects of behavioral psychology and its implications in many facets of life ranging from education to parenting.

The major contribution of American psychologist BF Skinner to psychology is his theory on behaviorism and how it can be applied in a classroom environment.

 Behaviorism, also known as the study of observable behaviors, views society and all actions within it through the lens of conditioning, or learning by association (Skinner). Behaviors that can easily be conditioned are those with either an immediate reward or punishment associated with them.

The basic theory of behaviorism has been applied in diverse fields such as medicine (physical therapy), education, and management. Though the scope is different, there are some common variables that apply to all three disciplines.

Edward Tolman Purposive Behaviorism Theory

Purposive behaviorism theory is a psychological concept that suggests people go through life with the goal of satisfying their needs. This theory was first proposed by Edward Tolman, an American psychologist who studied learning and motivation at the University of California, Berkeley.

Tolman’s approach was first published in his book, Purposive Behavior in Animals and Men, published in 1932.
Tolman, it was clear that all behavioral behaviors are goal-oriented, including those for animals.
The key difference between behaviorism and the purposive behaviorism of Tolman is that behavior is goal-oriented.

Purposive behaviorism is a branch of psychology and it combines the objective study of behavior while also considering the purpose or goal of behavior.  Edward Tolman thought that learning developed from knowledge about the environment and how the organism relates to its environment.

The theory is a form of functionalism that proposes that all behavior is functionally relevant to the organism’s ultimate goal, or “purposes”. Purposive Behaviorists believe that any action made by an individual will be made to satisfy his/her needs and wants.

They also believe that the effect on the environment can only be determined through specific actions with specific responses from these interactions.

Tolman’s goal was to identify the complex cognitive mechanisms and purposes that guided behavior. His theories on learning went against the traditionally accepted stimulus-response connections (classical conditioning) at this time that were proposed by other psychologists such as Edward Thorndike.

Tolman disagreed with Watson’s behaviorism, so he initiated his own behaviorism, which became known as purposive behaviorism

The theory states that humans have an innate tendency to learn from rewards or punishments.

An example of behaviorism is when teachers reward their class or certain students with a party or special treat at the end of the week for good behavior throughout the week. The same concept is used with punishments. The teacher can take away certain privileges if the student misbehaves.

Tolman Latent Learning and Cognitive Maps

Latent learning is a term used in psychology to describe the increase in retention of information over time without explicitly practicing or studying. It falls under the category of implicit learning.

Latent learning is a form of learning where an individual learns through observation and imitation, without any deliberate practice or study. This concept was first introduced by psychologist Edward Tolman during his experiments with rats. 

Cognitive maps are a way to represent our understanding of the world around us. They allow us to make sense of how things are related and organized.

Cognitive map theory proposes that learners adopt different strategies when learning new concepts, depending on existing knowledge structures. In other words, cognitive maps act as filters for information we receive from the environment.

A cognitive map is a depiction or representation of knowledge in someone’s head. Cognitive maps have been used to explain how people use spatial relationships, such as left and right or up and down, to understand themselves and their environment better.

Purposive Behaviorism Implication To Teaching and Education.

Behaviorism or the behavioral learning theory is a popular concept that focuses on how students learn. Behaviorism focuses on the idea that all behaviors are learned through interaction with the environment.

Tolman’s theory was called purposive behaviorism because it studies behavior as it is organized around purposes. Learning is always purposive and goal-directed. Individuals act on beliefs, attitudes, changing conditions, and they strive towards goals. Tolman saw behavior as holistic, purposive, and cognitive.

How do you promote purposive learning?

• Identify the objective of your lesson.
• Create a plan for how you will teach that objective
• Use strategies to help students learn the material more effectively, such as providing guided practice and feedback.
•  Provide opportunities for students to apply what they have learned by asking them questions about it or giving them problems to solve, provide a clear, well-defined purpose for the learning.
•  Provide specific objectives or goals that are appropriate to the learner’s needs and abilities.
• Present content in small, manageable chunks of information.
• Allow adequate time for learners to process new material before introducing more complex concepts

Key Concepts of Tolman’s Purposive Behaviorism

Purposive behaviorism (or teleological behaviorism) is a theoretical approach to psychology that was developed in the early 20th century.

It stresses purposive action and incorporates functional relations between stimuli, responses, and reinforcing consequences.

Purposive Behaviorism theory states that animals and humans learn by associating their behaviors with positive or negative reinforcement from the environment.

What are some examples of purposive behaviorism?

Purposive behaviorism is a type of behavioral psychology that focuses on goal-oriented actions and thoughts.

• Examples of purposive behaviorism are when people do things to achieve their goals.
• Engaging in activities that are fun and enjoyable.
• Doing things for the sake of doing them, not because they have a specific purpose.
• Acting without thinking about what the consequences will be.

What Is Purposive Behaviorism? What Does Purposive Behaviorism Mean?