Clark L. Hull

Clark L. Hull
Clark Leonard Hull

Clark Leonard Hull
Born 24 May 1884
Akron, New York
Died 10 May 1952
New Haven, Connecticut
Nationality American
Fields psychologist

Clark Leonard Hull (1884 - 1952) was an influential American psychologist who sought to explain learning and motivation by scientific laws of behavior. Born in Akron, New York, Hull obtained bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Michigan, and in 1918 a PhD from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he also taught from 1916 to 1929. His doctoral research on "Quantitative Aspects of the Evolution of Concepts" was published in Psychological Monographs.

Hull conducted research demonstrating that his theories could predict and control behavior. His most significant works were the Mathematico-Deductive Theory of Rote Learning (1940), and Principles of Behavior (1943), which established his analysis of animal learning and conditioning as the dominant learning theory of its time. Hull is known for his debates with Edward C. Tolman. He is also known for his work in drive theory. Hull’s model is couched in biological terms: Organisms suffer deprivation. Deprivation creates needs. Needs activate drives. Drives activate behavior. Behavior is goal directed. Achieving the goal has survival value.

Contents

Formula to determine motivation

Hull's formula for determining motivation, was sEr = sHr * D

sEr = excitatory potential (likelihood that the organism would produce response r to stimulus s),
sHr = habit strength (derived from previous conditioning trials),
D = drive strength (determined by, e.g., the hours of deprivation of food, water, etc.)

Later, a variety of other factors were gradually added to the formula to account for results not captured by this simple function. Eventually the formula became:

sEr = V x D x K x J x sHr - sIr - Ir - sOr - sLr

where V is the stimulus intensity
K is incentive motivation (size or quality of the reinforcer),
J is the incentive based on the delay of reinforcement,
Ir is reactive inhibition (i.e., fatigue) sIr is conditioned inhibition (due to previous non-reinforcement of r),
sLr is the reaction threshold (smallest reinforcement that will produce learning), and
sOr is momentary behavioral oscillation (error).

The hypothetic-deductive method

In experimental psychology, he created the "hypothetic-deductive" systematic method, after the observation and elaboration of hypotheses. This method brought him precise definitions and conceptualised axioms which helped him develop his theories. He believed that behavior was a set of interactions between an individual and their environment. He analyzed behavior from a perspective of biological adaptation, which is an optimization of living conditions through need reduction.

Studies on hypnosis

Hull is often credited with having begun the modern study of hypnosis.

His work Hypnosis and Suggestibility (1933) was a rigorous study of the phenomenon, using statistical and experimental analysis. Hull's studies emphatically demonstrated once and for all that hypnosis had no connection with sleep ("hypnosis is not sleep, … it has no special relationship to sleep, and the whole concept of sleep when applied to hypnosis obscures the situation").

The main result of Hull's study was to examine the veracity of the apparently extravagant claims of hypnotists, especially regarding extraordinary improvements in cognition or the senses under hypnosis. Hull's experiments showed the reality of some classical phenomena such as mentally induced pain reduction and apparent inhibition of memory recall.

However, Clark's work made clear that these effects could be achieved without hypnosis being seen as a distinct state, but rather as a result of suggestion and motivation, which was a forerunner of the behavioural approach to hypnosis. Similarly, moderate increases in certain physical capacities and changes to the threshold of sensory stimulation could be induced psychologically; attenuation effects could be especially dramatic. Hull is famous for his signature hypnotic induction in which he would look at someone straight in the eyes until they were induced.[citation needed]

Recognition and death

Hull received the Warren Medal in 1945 from the Society of Experimental Psychologists. In 1929, he moved to Yale and stayed there until his death. He died on May 10, 1952, in New Haven, Connecticut.

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  • Clark L. Hull — Clark Leonard Hull Clark Leonard Hull (1884 1952), est un psychologue behavioriste américain. Il est avant tout connu pour l introduction de la notion de pulsion dans sa théorie de l apprentissage. Sommaire 1 Biographie 2 Influence 3… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Clark L. Hull — Clark Leonard Hull (Akron, Nueva York, 1884 New Haven, Connecticut, 10 de mayo de 1952) fue un influyente psicólogo estadounidense que se propuso comprender el aprendizaje y la motivación a través de leyes científicas del comportamiento (véase… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Clark Leonard Hull — (1884 1952), est un psychologue behavioriste américain. Il est avant tout connu pour l introduction de la notion de pulsion dans sa théorie de l apprentissage. Sommaire 1 Biographie 2 Influence 3 Bibliographie …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Clark L. Hull — Clark Leonhard Hull (* 24. Mai 1884 in Akron, New York; † 10. Mai 1952 in New Haven, Connecticut) war ein US amerikanischer Psychologe. Er steuerte wesentliche Beiträge zur behavioristischen Lerntheorie bei und wird daher heute dem so genannten… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Clark Hull — Clark Leonard Hull Clark Leonard Hull (1884 1952), est un psychologue behavioriste américain. Il est avant tout connu pour l introduction de la notion de pulsion dans sa théorie de l apprentissage. Sommaire 1 Biographie 2 Influence 3… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Clark Hull — Clark Leonhard Hull (* 24. Mai 1884 in Akron, New York; † 10. Mai 1952 in New Haven, Connecticut) war ein US amerikanischer Psychologe. Er steuerte wesentliche Beiträge zur behavioristischen Lerntheorie bei und wird daher heute dem so genannten… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Hull — Hull, Clark Leonard Hull, Cordell (Kingston upon Hull) ► C. de Gran Bretaña, en el E de Inglaterra, condado de Humberside, junto al mar del Norte; 246 700 h. Principal puerto pesquero del país. * * * (as used in expressions) Hull, Bobby Robert… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Hull — may refer to: *Kingston upon Hull (invariably abbreviated to Hull), city in England named after the River Hull (Kings town upon Hull, prior to 1299 Wyke upon Hull) ** River Hull, river in East Riding of Yorkshire, England ** Hull City A.F.C.,… …   Wikipedia

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  • Hull, Clark L. — ▪ American psychologist in full  Clark Leonard Hull   born May 24, 1884, Akron, N.Y., U.S. died May 10, 1952, New Haven, Conn.       American psychologist known for his experimental studies on learning and for his attempt to give mathematical… …   Universalium

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