THE PHILOSOPHY OF

BEHAVIORISM
Behaviorism
 Behaviorism is a theory of animal and human learning
that only focuses on objectively observable behaviors
and discounts mental activities.

 Used by teachers when they reward (reinforce) or

punish behaviors.

 This theory implies that the learner responds to

environment stimuli without his/her mental state
being a factor in the learner’s behavior.
THREE TYPES OF BEHAVIORISM
1. Methodological Behaviorism
2. Psychological Behaviorism
3. Analytical or logical Behaviorism
Methodological Behaviorism
- is a normative theory about the scientific conduct of
psychology. It claims that psychology should concern
itself with the behavior of organisms (human and
nonhuman animals).
Psychological Behaviorism
- Psychological behaviorism is a research program
within psychology. It purports to explain human
and animal behavior in terms of external physical
stimuli, responses, learning histories, and (for
certain types of behavior) reinforcements.
Analytical or logical Behaviorism
- Analytical or logical behaviorism is a theory
within philosophy about the meaning or semantics
of mental terms or concepts. It says that the very
idea of a mental state or condition is the idea of a
behavioral disposition or family of behavioral
tendencies, evident in how a person behaves in one
situation rather than another.
Early Behaviorists/Proponents
 Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936)
Pavlovdid a famous experiment
that demonstrate the theory of
Classical conditioning.

Did the experiment with the

dogs.
 John B. Watson(1878-1958)

 Believed that human behavior

resulted from specific stimuli that
elicited certain responses.

 Use Classical conditioning on

human.
 B.F Skinner (1904-1990)
 Skinner believed that the best way
to understand behavior is to look at
the causes of an action and its
consequences.

 He called this approach operant

conditioning.
TWO TYPES OF CONDITIONING
1. Operant
2. Classical
OPERANT CONDITIONING
Itis a method of learning that occurs
through rewards and punishments.

Rewards cause an increase in behavior,

while punishment decrease the behavior.
CLASSICAL CONDITIONING

 Naturalreflex that occurs in response to a

stimulus.

 Techniques of classical conditioning are used

today in treatment of phobias and anxiety
Philosophy of Behaviorism
in Education
 Why teach?

Student’s behavior is a product of

his environment.
 What to teach?

Teach students to respond

favorably to various stimuli in the
environment.
How to teach?

Arranges environmental conditions so

that students can make the responses to
stimuli. e.g., well-managed classroom,
use of attention catchers and incentives.