Behaviorism Essay

1343 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Learning styles research paper introduction

Introduction
Educational psychologists have paid a great attention to have a true understanding of how people learn something new. In the last few centuries, many theories have seen the light of the day and among all the theories, I found behaviorism, cognitivism and experimentalism highly interesting. Since, there is no single universal definition of learning, theories are still proposed and some of them overlap the traditional ones. As the skills acquired by learning, contributes greatly in the overall development of a nation, there is great curiosity around the subject. If a trainer or a teacher knows well, about the learning style of his student or trainee, then things can become much easier for both. While the theories of behaviorism and cognitivism are use in imparting knowledge to kids in schools, experimentalism advocates for learning through personal experiences and is also highly popular in kindergartens, schools, colleges, medical laboratories, corporate training, etc. This essay will include the advantages and limitations of the selected learning theories, followed by a careful evaluation of the research methods so that at the end, the analysis is done in a most justified manner.
Body
Believe or not, the learning theory of behaviourism works on this assumption that a person learns a behavior from his or her surrounding environment, peer groups, media and society. This immediately contradicts the traditional thinking that behavior is inherited. There are two learning theories that are with the theory of behaviourism. One is classical conditioning and other one is operant conditioning. Classical conditioning is a theory proposed by Ivan Pavlov in the 1990’s. He performs an experiment on dog to find out that whether it i...

... middle of paper ...

...at if we do not indulge in any mischievous activity till they return from their party, they will surely bring some gift! In such a case, unintentionally behavioral theory gets implementation where gift is used as a stimuli.
Out of the three theories, it becomes evident that the experimental theory of learning triumphs over the remaining two as it involves the actual act of doing something to learn by own experiences. Today most of the universities and corporate trainers use this theory for imparting learning in a time bound manner. Moreover, this theory does not have any limitations and can combine behavioral and cognitive learning along with experiments to reflect upon any concept to grasp it in its entity. Learning should always be imparted in a way in which a learner can grasp the subject swiftly and most importantly rightly with no misconceptions and confusions.

Show More
Related

  • Discussion Board #2: Behaviorism and Tantrums

    622 Words  | 2 Pages

    Behaviorism, or learning theory is one of three “grand theories” of human development. The focus of behaviorism is observable behavior, with no reference to mental processes. As a learning theory behaviorism, assumes that learning occurs via interactions with the environment, through the process of conditioning.

    Read More

  • Aviourist Theory: The Aviorist's Theory Of Behavior

    537 Words  | 2 Pages

    The behaviorist theory is a theory of psychology that emerged in the early twentieth century that was a response to a number of predictions regarding observable behaviors. A majority of the theory concerned itself on the behavior of animals and humans, on the physical, observable behavior, not the unobservable events. Psychologists believe that us as learners start off with a clean slate and our behavior is shaped by the environment we are brought and raised in, therefore, our behavior is formed by positive and negative factors we create while growing in our environment. Our observable behavior is linked to our thinking and our emotions we give off. Psychologists have studied that there is little difference recorded from the thoughts and emotions that take place in a humans mind and from an animals. An individual has no free will and their environment determines the type of the behavior they have. Everyone’s environment they live in is teaching the behavior individuals have. Internally, our behaviors are a result of stimuli. The stimulus causes the reaction and what reaction that wil...

    Read More

  • Behaviorism Essay

    763 Words  | 2 Pages

    Today’s classrooms are designed after a few key theories. One of which is behaviorism. Behaviorism is the idea that we can control others through intervention as a higher order of animals. One of the guiding principles of behaviorism is scheduling, which helps initiate behaviorism strategies of learning. One of those strategies is contracting in which a teacher and a student negotiate to create a desirable outcome. Another is a token economy which uses contracting and scheduling to produce systematic results. In addition, prompting is the idea that a student will know what to do if a certain activity occurs. Modeling is simply the idea that your behavior will determine that of your students. Finally, Rote learning is the concept of use it

    Read More

  • Learning And Memory Essay

    2355 Words  | 5 Pages

    This paper attempts to analyze some aspects of learning and memory as studied by researchers and understand these concepts via are own minor experimental research.

    Read More

  • Nature and Nurture

    585 Words  | 2 Pages

    The quote from the famous psychologist John B. Watson essentially sums up behaviourism. Behaviourism refers to the school of psychology founded by Watson, established on the fact that behaviours can be measured and observed (Watson, 1993). In behaviourism, there is a strong emphasis that the acquisition of learning, or permanent change in behaviour, is by external manifestation. Thus, any individual differences in behaviours observed was more likely due to experiences, and not by the working of genes. As the quote suggest, any individuals can be potentially trained to perform any tasks through the right conditioning. There are two major types of conditioning, classical and operant conditioning (Cacioppo & Freberg, 2012).

    Read More

  • Learning Style for Student Nurses

    1509 Words  | 4 Pages

    Learning is defined as a permanent change in attitude or behaviour that occurs as a result of repeated experience (Sims & Sims, 1995). Understanding one’s learning style has many advantages as it can help one to identify the learning method or activities that can help to optimise the learning experience. It has been suggested that the importance of one’s learning style has been identified through studies and research on how one can maximise the potential for success and further learning development (Honey & Mumford, 2006). Learning styles are unique to each individual and are developed in childhood (Chase, 2001). We all have different personalities; therefore we all have preferred learning styles that suit us best. The way one learns depends on preference. Some learn by observing, listening and imitating others and draw conclusions from their experience. There are several factors that affect our learning style; for example, background, culture, religion and environment can have a major influence on one’s learning.

    Read More

  • Behaviorism Essay

    756 Words  | 2 Pages

    Behaviorism is a branch of psychology that has a theoretical approach that gives emphasis to the study of behavior in place of the subject of the mind or the physiological correlates of one's behavior. Behavior is the externally visible response to a stimulus of an animal or human (Weidman). B.F. Skinner is one of the most prominent psychologists of the study of behaviorism. Skinner was on the advance of behaviorism. B.F. Skinner created a group of theories that set out to prove that subjective impetus is not what behavior in humans and animals is so much based on but that behavior is more based on possible reward received and chastisement applied to the animal or human (Newsmakers). Skinner entered into the branch of behaviorism in the 1920s. Behaviorism was still a fairly new branch to psychology at this time. However, Skinner's experiments in his libratory were broadly consideration to be electrifying and ground-breaking, illuminating an knowledge of human behavior and logistics (Newsmakers). Skinner called such behavior based on possible reward received and chastisement that was followed by the repetition of that behavior operant.

    Read More

  • Behaviorism, Constructivism, and Cognitivism: Multiple Approaches To Learning

    2101 Words  | 5 Pages

    A. Behaviorism, constructivism and cognitivism are relatively common theories used in the classroom as ways to approach student learning. Behaviorism focuses on observable behavior, such as students answering questions correctly, or being able to follow directions to complete a task as instructed. Characteristics of a classroom that uses behaviorism might be memorization of facts, writing vocabulary words, or a token reward system to inspire the desired behavior and decrease undesired behaviors. Constructivism, as indicated by the root word “construct,” focuses on the construction of new ideas, or expanding on what is already known. Students in a classroom using constructivism as a means for learning might seem more actively engaged in the learning process; they often learn something new through applying what they already know about the content area, and exploring new matter to further their understanding. This type of classroom often uses hands on manipulatives to allow students to actually build, create, or experiment with what they are learning. A cognitivism approach to learning might be explained by the minds capacity to process information – such as how a learner might remember something, retrieve information, or store new concepts. Learning through this method often depends on how the student processes what the teacher is presenting. Classrooms using this approach might incorporate learning strategies that help students categorize and sequence information to assist with processing. Like constructivism, it can be an active style of learning.

    Read More

  • Theories and Principles for Planning and Enabling Learning

    2333 Words  | 5 Pages

    Pavlov’s theory is known has classical conditioning ‘He is remembered for the salivating dogs which illustrates very usefully the central behaviourist idea that behaviour can be predicted, measured and controlled, and that learning a matter of stimulus and response (Wallace 2007:97).’

    Read More

  • Jerome Seymour Bruner

    1347 Words  | 3 Pages

    Schunk, D. H. (2000) Learning theories. An educational perspective. (3rd ed.) Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

    Read More

  • B. F. Skinner Theory Operant Conditioning

    1388 Words  | 3 Pages

    B. F. Skinner, the most well-known American Psychologist who was the top exponent of the school of psychology that was known as behaviorism, preserved the impression that learning is an end result of change in evident behavior. The changes in behavior are determined by the way individuals reply to stimuli (events) in the environment. B.F. Skinner defined this phenomenon as operant conditioning. Operant conditioning means changing of behavior by the use of reinforcement which is given after the desired response (McLeod, 2007). This

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Cognitive And Behavioral Theory

    1266 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Behavior theory consists of ideas about how human actions and emotions develop, are sustained, and are extinguished through principles of learning” (Walsh, 2010). Positive and negative reinforcement is used to help manipulate the behaviors of the individual. The theory has been used to help eliminate unwanted behaviors. In addition, behavior theory has been use primarily with children, and persons with developmental disabilities. According to Walsh (2010) behavior theory evolved in the 1960s from a field of philosophy to the field of science. Ivan Pavlov discovered classical conditioning, which plays a major role in behavioral theory. Classical conditioning is the process of learning through ones surroundings, conditioned, and unconditioned stimuli and response. B. F. Skinner discovered operant conditioning the process of learning to influence the future responses to the environment (Clark, 2004). The two concepts has been used throughout the behavior theory to help assist clients with unacceptable behaviors that is occurring. The combination of the two concepts has been a very helpful aspect to the behavior theory. Both concepts offer a different approach or solution to the behavior of the client.

    Read More

  • Reflection On Learning Theory

    1731 Words  | 4 Pages

    Each of the three learning theories, Cognitivism, Constructivism, and Behaviorism, has worth and merit in my opinion. Yet, each one has its own unique qualities with one common factor, the learning process. It seems to me that the best teacher is one who would utilize all the theories of learning. However, if I look closely, I am most likely favoring one or two more than the others in my own instructional methods. I read the brief definition of these three theories and realized that I needed to examine a more in-depth explanation of each of them. The theory of cognitivism focuses on the mind of the learner

    Read More

  • Behavior And Social Learning Case Study

    1175 Words  | 3 Pages

    The successful application of these theories have been very interdisciplinary in their use, being applicable in the development of disorders and even calculating spending patterns across social groups. Behaviorism and social learning have evolved beyond the original use of solely educational purposes. However, the effectiveness of the behaviorism theory has come into question as an educational approach., L’Ecuyer (2014) explains that the behaviorism approach, “emphasizes the accumulation of information (knowledge), on external behaviors (skills and mechanical habits) and their emotional and physical reactions in given situations, rather than on the person’s internal mental states, such as intentionality, which are much more complex (p.2). The article questions the modern effectiveness of the behaviorism approach on children. I have found that the theory of social learning when paired with the behaviorism theory is still very useful in education, even with the influx of modern technologies. At the very core, behaviorism, both classical and, seeks to explain why humans react to certain stimuli. Operant is more used in socially especially in child rearing, how to effectively discipline and child via reinforcement of positive behaviors or corporal punishment for negative behaviors is still a highly debated topic. Social learning can also heavily influence

    Read More

  • Educational Psychology

    1180 Words  | 3 Pages

    Behaviorism is the point of view where learning and behavior are described and explained in terms of stimulus-response relationships. Behaviorists agree that an individual’s behaviors is a result of their interaction with the environment. Feedback, praise and rewards are all ways people can respond to becoming conditioned. The focus is on observable events instead of events that happen in one’s head. The belief that learning has not happened unless there is an observable change in behavior. “The earliest and most Ardent of behaviourists was Watson (1931; Medcof and Roth, 1991; Hill 1997). His fundamental conclusion from many experimental observations of animal and childhood learning was that stimulus-response (S-R) connections are more likely to be established the more frequently or recently an S-R bond occurs. A child solving a number problem might have to make many unsuccessful trials before arriving at the correct solution” (Childs, 2004).

    Read More

More about Behaviorism Essay

Open Document