BEHAVIORISM THEORY

-According to Demirezen (1988:135) background of behaviorism growth is basically, behaviorist theory is psychology
theory that was founded by J.B. Watson as a reaction to traditional grammar.
-This theory was supported by Leonard Bloomfield, O.N, Mowrer, B.F Skinner and A.W Staats.
-Major principle of behaviorist theory: is the analysis of human behavior in observable stimulus-response interaction as
the association between them.
PROPONENTS
Thorndike was the first behaviorist who explored the learning area in order to form association on particular process of
behavior and the consequence itself.
There were kinds of behaviorism that the behaviorist theory of stimulus response learning was developed in operant
conditioning from Skinner.
On the other hand, other behaviorist was assumed by Pavlov, that stimulus and response work together.
WHAT IS BEHAVIORISM?
-Is the earliest language learning theory which is propounded by J.B. Watson (1878-1957) in 1913.
This theory is supported and believed by some behaviorists who are Skinner, Pavlov and Thordike; also
profoundly developed the theory of behaviorism on learning.
-focuses on observable behaviors which are changed as the symptoms of learning.
-According to Brown (1987:17), behavioristic approach focuses on the immediately perceptible aspects of
linguistic behavior- the publicly observable responses.

WHEN DOES LEARNING OCCUR?

-Learning only occurs when there are changes in behavior and observable as an evidence of changing.
Example: feeling and mental processes are not accepted in Skinner's human behavior's theory, however he
still accepted the existence of mind.
-Behaviorists consider learning a language, as a set of mechanical habits which are formed through the
process of imitation and repetition.
-Learning a second language (L2) should be learnt through extensive drill and practice.

Characteristics of behaviorism

 Lie outside rather than within the individual.

 The dualistic portrayal of mankind which distinguishes between mental processes and observable
behavior is scientifically unproductive.
 The scientific study of mankind should be restricted as much as possible to directly observable
quantities.
 Explanations of human behavior are simple in principle, as behavior arose out the elementary learning
processes, but in practice however, behavior is quite complex.
 Man is generally a shallow and imprecise observer of both his own and other's behavior.

 Attempt to influence behavior, must be preceded by a thorough behavioral analysis.

PRINCIPLES OF LEARNING BEHAVIORISM

-Behaviorism is primarily associated with Pavlov (classical conditioning) in Russia and J.B. Watson; while B.F.
Skinner in United States (Operant conditioning)

The Principles of Classical Conditioning

1. Acquisition is the initial stage of learning when a response is to be strengthened.
2. Extinction is when the occurrences of a conditioned response decrease or disappear.
3. Spontaneous Recovery is the reappearance of the conditioned response after a rest period.
4. Stimulus Generalization is the tendency for the conditioned stimulus to appear similar responses after the
response has been conditioned.
5. Discrimination is the ability to differentiate between a conditioned stimulus and other stimuli that have not
been paired with an unconditioned stimulus.
 Principles of operant conditioning

1.Behaviorist theory dwells on spoken language; learning a language is primarily what is spoken and
secondarily what is written.
2. Is the habit formation theory of language teaching and learning.
3. The Stimulus-response chain, S-Response emphasizes conditioning and building from the simplest
conditioned responses to more and more complex behaviors.
4. All learning, is the establishment of habits as the result of reinforcement and reward.
5. The learning, due to its socially-conditioned nature, can be the same for each individual.

Behaviorism as a Second Language Acquisition

1. Contrastive Analysis Hypothesis (CAH)- interference was the main source of errors in the process of second
language acquisition. (Stimulus and-response model) regarded instances of interference between L1 & L2 as a
result of linguistic habits that were transferred from the mother tongue to the language to be learnt.
2. Creative Contrastive Hypothesis (CCH)- native language of a learner does not have much influence on the
acquisition of another language.
3. Interlanguage Hypothesis (ILH)- notably formulated by Larry Selinker in 1972 and included interference as a
possible source of error. It explained that learners access a particular linguistic system when they try to acquire
another language. This systematic set of rules is called interlanguage and differs from both the native and the
target language.
BEHAVIORISM AS CONTESTED BY KRASHEN AS A SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION
1.Audio Lingual Method- function as a structural approach designed to develop oral communication fluency in
L2.
2. Innatism- linguistic knowledge is an abstract nature no solely on the set of mechanical habits (Imitation and
Repetition).
3.Monitor Model- consists of five hypotheses such as The Input Hypothesis, The Acquisition-Learning
Hypothesis, The Monitor Hypothesis, The Natural Order Hypothesis and The Affective Filter Hypothesis.
4. INTERACTIONISM- language develops as a result when interaction occurs between children and other
speakers.
5.Comprehension Output- four ways in which output might play a role in the process of second language
learning (reading, listening, writing and speaking) as proposed by (Swain, 1985) that Listening and Reading
could be the comprehensible inputs different from speaking and writing.
Monitor model 's hypotheses
1.Input Hypothesis- claimed that language acquisition takes place through comprehension input.

2. Acquisition-Learning Hypothesis- explained that adults have two distinct and independent ways to develop
knowledge of a second language- learning and acquisition.

3. Monitor Hypothesis-acquired knowledge is responsible for fluency and intuitive judgments about
correctness.

4.Affective Filter Hypothesis- this hypothesis is connected to the motivation factor

Prepared by: Ms. Dorepe P. Inoc Professor: Mirasol Lim, Ed.D

Subject: Theories of Language & Literature Source:http://www.simplypsychology.org/language.html