(BEHAVIORISM)

Behaviorist approaches in learning is like a refresher course about theories of learning when I
was still a College student. I believe this module gave me a deeper and better understanding of
behaviorism because I have to comprehend and analyze thoroughly what it is all about.

Behaviorism is a learning theory that only focuses on objectively observable behaviors and
discounts any independent activities of the mind. Behavior theorists define learning as nothing
more than the acquisition of new behavior based on environmental conditions.

Behaviorism as a Philosophy of Education Behaviorism is a branch of psychology that, when

applied to a classroom setting, focuses on conditioning student behavior with various types of
behavior reinforcements and consequences called operant conditioning. The principles of
behaviorism and the techniques of behavioral engineering go back at least to PAVLOV,
WATSON, and SKINNER . But skinner pioneered their implementation in many fields of
contemporary life. Into politics, economics, and other social organization.

AIMS OF EDUCATION

Although many people disapprove of the concepts of behavioral engineering. It has increasingly
become part of the educational process. Teacher have conditioned to sit up straight and to be
quite through looks, grades and physical punishment. When students are emotionally disturbed,
conditioning is one way to develop a step-by-step program through rewards (or punishment.)

WATSON believed that psychology could become a science when it became possible to predict
responses from stimuli; psychology should be objective & Experimental.

PAVLOV Famous for his behavioral with dogs. Taught dogs to salivate when he rang a bell. •
Provide a stimulus of food and achieved his desire reflex which was the dog salivating. • Pavlov
was most known for his use of classical conditioning to train dogs.

SKINNER. Skinner also advocate of education, although many critics argue that what he meant
by education is not education but training. Behaviorist consider the child to be an organism who
already a highly programmed before coming to school. This programming is accomplished by
among other influences by Parents, Peers, Sibling, and Television. Some programming might
have been bad, but the child has been receptive to it and has absorbed a lot of it. SKINNER
believes that one reason why people have trouble making moral decisions is that they received
contradictory. And skinner also believed that people should try to create a world of Peace and
justice, and if conditioning can help, then it should be used.

According to the behaviorist, teachers have many rewards or reinforcement at their disposal,
including praise, a smile, a touch , stars, or candies. Many people have questioned the use of
intrinsic rewards but behaviorist claim that they are only to be in place of intrinsic one that
should be encouraged later. Studies indicate that rewards need to be given every time.

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.
Behavioral theories can help facilitate learning as a form of classroom management. An example
of this is when teachers reward their class or certain students with bonus grades or special treat at
the end of the month for doing well in class for the whole month. The same concept is used with
punishments for unacceptable behavior in class. The consequences that reinforce the desired
behavior are arranged to follow the desired behavior such as studying or preparing for a test and
get a good grade. The new behavioral pattern can be repeated so it becomes automatic. The
change in behavior of the learner signifies that learning has occurred. Teachers use behavioral
principles when they reward or punish student behaviors. Drills, rote work, repetitive practice,
bonus points or giving an incentive to do more, participation points or giving an incentive to
participate, verbal reinforcement like saying “good job” and establishing rules are examples and
applications of behavioral principles to manage behaviors and promote learning because through
these learning activities, teachers are able to help students to recall basic facts, learn automatic
responses and master performing tasks.

Teachers’ Role

 All teachers use behavioral techniques of one kind of another in their classrooms.
Teacher condition students through grades, their attitudes toward them, gestures, and in a
thousand other ways.
  Also, teacher may fail to reward an appropriate behavior in a timely manner. This often
happens in a school were one teacher might reward a particular behavior but another
teacher might not.
 Skinner and other behaviorist would like to see some consensus among educators as to
the kinds of behavior they would like to see reinforced and then use proven methods of
conditioning to achieve such behaviors.
 One of the most important things a teacher can do is learn the theory and the techniques
of the conditioning process.
 Teachers must not learn the techniques of conditioning but also use them effectively.

Praise, if used correctly, can increase intrinsic motivation by being informational • Give
unexpected rewards • Avoid tangible rewards for something the student already finds interesting
• Rewards may decrease intrinsic motivation when given for simply engaging in an activity.
Rewards should be contingent upon meeting a standard or advanced level of performance.

I believe that we are the one that has control on our behavior. I think it is not right to put all of
the blame to our environment for our problems or circumstances as a result of our behavior. We
can choose how we behave.

As a learning theory Behaviorism focuses on the observable behavior which they claim must be
the subject of a scientific study. The behaviorist theory of instruction and learning is based solely
on a change in behavior. Behaviorists do not measure understanding because they do not feel that
mental capacity can be measured. They agree that behavior can be learned through a series of
stimuli and responses. The Classical Conditioning Theorists lean towards a stimulus first,
followed by a response. This pattern is repeated as often as necessary to achieve the desired
behavior change. The Operant Conditioning Theorists believe that a desired behavior can be
achieved by a use of reinforcers. There are different types of reinforcers and schedules of
reinforcement, which can affect a change in behavior.

I believe that the Operant Conditioning theory is more plausible from an instructional standpoint.
The Classical Conditioning theory is, in my opinion, too basic. It can be easily shown how a
program of reinforcers can, in fact, change behavior. Parents will often use these techniques in
teaching their children how to behave. We can also observe the reinforcing motivation of
classroom rewards and grades.

Behaviorism is key for educators because it impacts how students react and behave in the
classroom and suggests that teachers can directly influence how their students behave.

I believe that our Creator gave all of us a free will for us to decide and choose what is right from
wrong. Although behaviorist approaches are helpful in learning, unlearning and relearning new
things, I consider the power of the mind has much more influence in human actions than
behaviorism. A wise man once said that one’s action is a product of one’s own thoughts.

Nonetheless, I appreciate all the positive things that we can get from behaviorism such as clear
predictions are provided when behaviorist approaches are used. In other words, explanations can
be tested scientifically and with evidence to support. Behaviorist approaches can be applied in
real life such as in therapy, teaching, learning and in classroom management. Behaviorist
approaches also put emphasis on objective measurement. There are many experiments to support
theories since behaviorist approaches focus on measurable and observable data.

As a summary, behavioral theories emphasize the role of environmental factors in influencing

behavior with little regard to the importance of innate or inherited factors. This amounts
basically to a focus on learning. Behavior theorists define learning as nothing more than the
acquisition of new behavior based on environmental conditions. Human behavior is learned, thus
all behavior can be unlearned and new behaviors learned in its place. Behaviorism is concerned
mainly with the observable and measurable features of human behavior. Therefore, when
behaviors become undesirable, they can be unlearned. Indeed, behaviorism has an impact in our
everyday lives and in education as well. As educators, we should know the importance of
behaviorism in teaching and learning process to promote and improve the learning of our
students.

Behaviorism is really centered on stimulus response and conditioning. We all heard growing up
that “practice makes perfect,” and in behaviorism, that is the goal. It is through a balance of
several different types of conditioning and reinforcement that educators try to encourage
learning, promote interest in the subject, and maintain appropriate classroom behaviors. Elliot
and Busse (1991) indicate that rewarding students aids the reinforcement of good classroom
behaviors and creates an atmosphere conducive to learning. Punishments like loss of privileges
can be effective as well, but really the positive approach will create students more willing to try
again.

However, it is critical that students are not conditioned to the point that they lose understanding.
I have had firsthand experience in the classroom when teaching mathematical formulas.
Sometimes we work so hard with students to help them understand how to solve the formula,
that we miss the part where they are to understand why the formula works. When educators
realize this has taken place, it is important that they back up and try again, this time explaining
the “why” of the formula.

References:

Kendra Cherry. September 24, 2019. History and Key Concepts of Behavioral Psychology.
Retrieved last November 2020 from: https://www.verywellmind.com/behavioral-
psychology4157183#:~:text=Behaviorism%2C%20also%20known%20as
%20behavioral,environmental%20stimuli%20shape%20our%20actions.

Saul McLeod. 2020. Behaviorist Approach. Retrieved last November 2020 from:
https://www.simplypsychology.org/behaviorism.html