Question

Who among the following behaviourist theorists of learning advocated the role of cognitive and molar concepts?
1. C.L. Hull
2. E.L. Thorndike
3. E.C. Tolman
4. J.B. Watson

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 3 : E.C. Tolman

E.C. Tolman

• Purposive behaviorism is a branch of psychology that was introduced by Edward Tolman.
• It combines the objective study of behavior while also considering the purpose or goal of behavior.
• Tolman thought that learning developed from knowledge about the environment and how the organism relates to its environment.
• purposive behaviorism a cognitive theory of learning postulating that behavioral acts have a goal or purpose that selects and guides the behavioral sequence 
• Tolman's purposive behaviorism focused on meaningful behavior, or molar behavior, such as kicking a ball. 

C.L. Hull

• His systematic behavior theory, also known as drive theory.
• In psychology, a drive theory, theory of drives or drive doctrine is a theory that attempts to analyze, classify, or define the psychological drives.
• A drive is an instinctual need that has the power of driving the behavior of an individual.
• It is an excitatory state produced by a homeostatic disturbance. 

E.L. Thorndike

• Edward Thorndike (1898) is famous in psychology for his work on learning theory that leads to the development of operant conditioning within Behaviorism.
• The learning theory of Thorndike represents the original S-R framework of behavioral psychology
•  Learning is the result of associations forming between stimuli and responses
• . Such associations or “habits” become strengthened or weakened by the nature and frequency of the S-R pairings

J.B. Watson

• Watson's behaviorist theory focused not on the internal emotional and psychological conditions of people, but rather on their external and outward behaviors. 
• Watson's behaviorist theory focused not on the internal emotional and psychological conditions of people, but rather on their external and outward behaviors.
• He believed that a person's physical responses provided the only insight into internal actions.

Therefore, we can conclude that E.C. Tolman advocated the role of cognitive and molar concepts.