Behaviorism

 Introduction:
Behaviorism, also known as behavioral psychology, is a theory of
learning which states all behaviors are learned through interaction with the
environment through a process called conditioning. Behaviorism is an area of
psychological study that focuses on observing and analyzing how environmental
changes affect behavior.

 The learning theory states that, innate factors have very little influence on behavior.

 Definition:
Behaviorism is the study and analysis of observable behavior.
 Founder of Behaviorism

John Broadus Watson in (1913 )

Born: Jan 9, 1878
Died : Sept 25, 1958
 He was of the view that introspection is unreliable as its validity cannot be checked.
Psychology has to study normal and abnormal human beings and animals as well. The
abnormal, mute children and animals cannot give their introspective reports. Psychology has to
study animals and children’s simple behavior in order to understand the complex behavior of
adult human beings.
 Rise of behaviorism
The behaviorism grew as rejection to structuralism, functionalism,
gestalism, biologicalsim and psychodynamism because they emphasized on
inner function of mind. Behaviorism stressed on the study of observable
behavior .
 Major thinkers in Behaviorism
Ivan Pavlov
Edward Thorndike
Clark Hull
B.F Skinner
John B. Watson
 Two majors types of Conditioning
 Classical conditioning
 Operant conditioning

Conditioning: A type of learning that links some sort of trigger or stimulus to a human
behavior or response.

Classical conditioning
Classical conditioning theory was Proposed by Ivan Pavlov
who was awarded with Noble prize in 1904. The theory posts that when a naturally occurring
stimulus and an environmental stimulus are repeatedly paired, the environmental stimulus will
eventually elicit a similar response to the natural stimulus.
 Pavlov’s Experiment on Dog

In Pavlov’s experiments, he presented food to a dog while shining a light in a dark room or
ringing a bell. The dog automatically salivated when the food was placed in its mouth. After
the presentation of the food was repeatedly paired with the light or bell, the dog started
salivating when it saw the light or heard the bell, even when no food was presented. In
other words, the dog was conditioned to associate the previously neutral stimulus with the
salivation response.
Operant Conditioning
First described by B. F. Skinner, an American psychologist. Operant conditioning (or
instrumental conditioning) focuses on using either reinforcement or punishment to increase or decrease a
behavior.

Reinforcement : Reward
Punishment A penalty or sanction given for any crime or offence.

Example : imagine that a schoolteacher punishes a student for talking out of turn by not letting the
student go outside for recess. As a result, the student forms an association between the behavior (talking
out of turn) and the consequence (not being able to go outside for recess). As a result, the problematic
behavior decreases.
In addition ;
Operant condition is being used to train people and animals to engage in new behaviors,
and it is used to help people eliminate unwanted ones.
B.F Skinner experiment on Rat
 Behaviorism and Education

 Behaviorists believe that if teachers utilize the method of reinforcement

and punishment, a positive change will be seen in learners behavior .
 People learn through observation and modelling.
 Key to learning is to condition the child in early years of life to train them
what you want them to be.
 Direct instruction , practice and drill monitoring students and prompt
feedback.
 Behaviorism and Education

 Change in external behavior using reinforcement and repetition .

 Desired behaviorist is rewarded , the undesired behavior is punished.
 The “ Teacher is the dominant person in the classroom.
 Behaviorism and Curriculum
 Organized so students experiences master the subject matter.
 Prescriptive approach
 Step by step structured methods for learning .
Stimulus
Responses by
provided by
learner
instructor
Learning is
change in
behavior

Reinforcement provided by
instructor
 Behaviorism and Curriculum

 Careful analyzing and sequencing of the learners needs and behaviors .

 Specify the desire outcomes , what needs to be changes , and how it will be
evaluated .
 Abundant drills
 Programmed Instructions
 criticisms
Many critics argued that behaviorism is an one-dimensional approach to
behavior and that behavioral theories do not account for free will and
internal influences such as moods, thoughts and feelings.
 Behaviorism does not account for other types of learning, especially
learning that occurs without the use of reinforcements and punishment.
 Strengths of behaviorism
 Behaviorism is based upon observable behaviors, so it is easier to
quantify and collect data and information when conducting research.
 Effective therapeutic techniques such intensive behavioral intervention,
token economics and discrete trial training are all rooted in behaviorism.
These approaches are often very useful in changing maladaptive or
harmful behaviors in both children and adults.
 Conclusion
• As a conclusion, according to Pavlov, Watson and Skinner, the Behavioral
Approach is based on the learning theory, excluding feelings and thoughts.
People behave on some way as a learned response that has previously
been reinforced from stimulus.