...Summarize Behaviorism and How It Has Affected The Understanding of Learning Cynthia Diane King American InterContinental University Online Abstract Many people would argue that learning cannot stand alone without theories. When broken down, theories are a set of standards that guides us to construct predictions. Ones way of thinking is constructed from birth to adulthood. Theories are not set in stone and do not guarantee results. However, theories do guide a great deal of how we live, teach, and understand the world. As a result, this summary will explore the learning theories which guide our instruction as teachers, students, and how it has affected the understanding of learning. After this summary one will understand what behavioral, cognitive, and constructivist learning theories look like and how the understanding of these theories are applied to learning. The summary of behaviorism and how it has affected the understanding of learning When one thinks of the word behaviorism the root word behavior presents itself. According to Webster (2010) behavior is the way a person carries, acts, or presents oneself. Add ism to the word and it becomes a doctrine and/or theory. As a result, behaviorism is the theory that the way one presents oneself can be changed. Teachers may identify with the word behaviorism as the word behavior management. This an issue that one has found to be the most probing question of teachers…what type of behavior management...
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...February 1, 2015 Abstract The theory of behaviorism is that human and animal behavior can be explained in terms of conditioning without any preconceived thought, but it can be defined by observable behavior that is researched. Behaviorism projects that individuals are products of their experiences and have become who they are because of conditioning. John Watson, who is credited with Behaviorism, made the comment that he could take “twelve healthy infants and take any one of them and mold them into any given occupation regardless of genetics, race, talents and/or abilities.”(Jenson, 2014) Watson felt that conditioning was a crucial part of behaviorism, as it was an extension of Pavlov’s discovery and his studies of stimulus-response reflexive relationships. In this paper the founding of behaviorism, the main components of the behaviorism theory, a brief description of 3 behaviorist experiments, and how behaviorism develops new behaviors will be discussed. Behaviorism and its effect on the learning process The founder of behaviorism is credited to John B. Watson. According to Watson, behavior was a subject matter in its own right, to be studied by the observational methods common to all sciences. This field of study and learning was founded in 1912, and it was formed as a reaction to the current focus on psychology at the time. In order to form this theory, John Watson studied the research of Ivan Pavlov. Watson felt that “psychology must have an empirical, objective...
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...Behaviorism and Learning Name Course Instructor Date Introduction Behaviorists argue that human behavior is learned hence the probability that human behavior can be unlearned, and new behavior can be learned is real. Behaviorist came to be as a counter for mentalists who emphasized on experimenting and understanding the mind. Behaviorists argue that the mind cannot be entirely tested to provide the true picture of learning. Instead, actions and reactions that people exhibit can be essential learning points about behavior. Behaviorist argued that what occurs in mind is non-observable hence focus should be on what is observable. Such perception led to the rise of behaviorism. Body Behaviorism is a hypothesis of learning based on the belief that behavior is acquired through conditioning. The responses that people demonstrate towards a certain environment shape his behavior. Behaviorism arose in early 20th century as a rejection of the analysis of the conscious and the unconscious mind. Ivan Pavlov is the earliest psychologists associated with the theory of behaviorism. Ivan discovered that behaviors could be learned through conditions association. Ivan conducted an experiment involving the digestive system of dogs to prove his theory. However, it is American psychologist John Watson who is recognized as the advocate of behaviorism. Watson introduce the theory of behaviorism in 1913 in the publication “psychology as the behaviorist views it” who later went...
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...Understanding Learning Through Behaviorism History Behaviorism started earlier works with a Russian physiologist named Ivan Pavlov. J.B Watson was one of the theories credited for his founding of the behavioral movement. B.F. Skinner played a major rule in the behavioral movement and is known for his research on operant conditioning and negative reinforcement. He developed a device called the "cumulative recorder," it showed rates of responding using a line, this device, he establish that behavior did not depend on the previous stimulus as Watson and Pavlov believed. Instead, Skinner found that the behaviors were dependent upon what happens following the response.(Waston, J. B. 1913) The behaviorism movement believes that behavior can be, measured also it can be trained; Watson set the stage for behaviorism, which soon become to lead psychology. While behaviorism did lose the hold it had on the other theories after 1950, however many of the main concepts are widely used today. The main components of the theory There are two concepts of behavioral theory that are very important one is classical and the other is operant conditioning, each involve the process of learning, however the processes are each different. Classical conditioning involves making an association between an involuntary response and a stimulus, while operant conditioning is about making an association between a voluntary behavior and a consequence. Classical conditioning can be used...
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...Chris McMahon Gina Craft Psych310 Week 4 John Watson, B.F. Skinner, and Edward Tolman, all had theories that remain the foundation for many schools of thought in psychology today. This paper will compare and contrast these theories. John Watson began forming his own theories about behavior, eventually known as "behaviorism". John B. Watson was soon to become known as the founder of the school of behaviorism in psychology. Watson's theory was considered classical behaviorism otherwise known as classical conditioning. Watson's view on behavior was that it was purely elicited. He believed that people did not experience emotions, that they were a response to some other stimuli. Watson's goal for classical behaviorism was to create a more objective science. John Watson was an innovator as well as the father of the school of behaviorism. His work in classical conditioning continues on today in both psychology and in the zoological society. B.F. Skinner, born in 1904, was a student of Harvard. After attaining his Ph.D. in psychology in 1931, Skinner went on to create his own school of thought known as Radical Behaviorism. Skinner's theory suggests that behaviors are a result of the environment, that the behavior exhibited causes effects, whether positive or negative, that determines the probability of the behavior being reproduced. His theory also paid heavy attention to the schedule of reinforcement. The reinforcement schedule suggests that the more that the behavior...
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...things teachers should take into consideration. Teaching as a profession has many codes they have to abide by inside and outside of the work place. The philosophy of education normally promotes a specific type or vision of education, and/or which examine the definition, goals and meaning of education. While you read this philosophy you will see what I have noticed or feel what teachers should do when it pertains to the student and their education. Behaviorism in the psychology sense is a movement in psychology and philosophy that emphasized the outward behavioral aspects of thought and dismissed the inward experiential, and sometimes the inner procedural aspects. Behaviorism in the educational sense is primarily concerned with observable and measurable aspects of human behavior. In defining behavior, behaviorist learning theories emphasize changes in behavior that result from stimulus-response associations made by the learner. In the book “About Behaviorism” B.F Skinner stated that he believes that certain things about behaviorism or the science of behavior are wrong. For example, 1. Its ignores consciousness, feelings, and state of mind 2. It neglects innate endowment and argues that all behavior is acquired during the lifetime of the individual 3. It formulates behavior simply as a set of responses to stimuli, thus representing a person as an automaton, robot, puppet or machine 4. It does not attempt to account for cognitive process 5. It has no place for intention or purpose ...
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...Behavioral Models of Personality PSY 330/ Theories of Personality Instructor: Nicole Hamilton February 8, 2015 Ashford University Behavioral Models of Personality Have you ever been interested in how your behavior affects your personality? There are several studies and contributors to the behavioral models of personality. Why is this interesting topic in the world of Psychology? In the quest to learn more about this branch of psychology, I was intrigued by many of the tests performed and the thoughts of the many people who contributed to the advancement of this particular part of psychology. The contributors of behavioral psychology main focus is on the behaviors that can be observed measured and changed. Behaviorist did not have any interest in the internal mental states of a person. A person could be trained or conditioned to do whatever it is you wanted them to do. John B. Watson is often quoted saying “Give me a dozen healthy infants, well-formed, and my own specified world to bring them up in and I’ll guarantee to take any one at random and train him to become any type of specialist I might select- doctor, lawyer, artist, merchant- chief and, yes, even a beggar-man and thief, regardless of his talents, penchants, tendencies, abilities, vocations, and race of ancestor”. (Magnavita, 2012) Watson is most well-known for his experiment with an eleven month old boy that was called “little Albert”. Watson and Rosalie Rayner, trained little Albert to be fearful...
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...1 Behaviorism and Learning Behaviorism and Learning Name Course Instructor Date Introduction Behaviorists argue that human behavior is learned hence the probability that human behavior can be unlearned, and new behavior can be learned is real. Behaviorist came to be as a counter for mentalists who emphasized on experimenting and understanding the mind. Behaviorists argue that the mind cannot be entirely tested to provide the true picture of learning. Instead, actions and reactions that people exhibit can be essential learning points about behavior. Behaviorist argued that what occurs in mind is non-observable hence focus should be on what is observable. Such perception led to the rise of behaviorism. Body Behaviorism is a hypothesis of learning based on the belief that behavior is acquired through conditioning. The responses that people demonstrate towards a certain environment shape his behavior. Behaviorism arose in early 20th century as a rejection of the analysis of the conscious and the unconscious mind. Ivan Pavlov is the earliest psychologists associated with the theory of behaviorism. Ivan discovered that behaviors could be learned through conditions association. Ivan conducted an experiment involving the digestive system of dogs to prove his theory. However, it is American psychologist John Watson who is recognized as the advocate of behaviorism. Watson introduce the theory of behaviorism in 1913 in the publication...
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...Abstract Behaviorism is often referred to as behavioral psychology in which its’ theory of learning is focused on the notion that all behaviors are attained by way of conditioning, as conditioning takes place within the environment (DeGrandpre, 2000). Behaviorism focuses heavily on the utilization of conditioning as well as the study of observable behavior which can be scientifically and objectively measured. This paper will; (1) summarize the four conditioning theories of behaviorism, (2) analyze the strengths and weaknesses of behaviorism in general, (3) apply behaviorism to a practical situation in your specialization, describing the situation, how the theory can be applied, and what the expected outcomes would be, as well as (4) describe the relation of behaviorism to self-regulation. The four conditioning theories of behaviorism Connectionism- Thorndike’s connectionism theory explains that as an individual experiences life, the feelings that they develop during the experiences allows that individual to modify their behavior. According to Schunk (2012) the theory of connectionism was developed by Thorndike and is a theory that involves formation associations between responses and stimuli. Thorndike’s theory is composed of three primary laws; (1) the law of effect, (2) the law of readiness, and (3) the law of exercise, it is these three laws that connect the sensory experiences and neural impulses (Schunk, 2012). The law of effect indicates that...
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...___ Behaviorism Perspectives For the purpose of this paper the theories of John B. Watson and his introduction of behaviorism in 1913 and his eventual scandal and departure from the world of psychology will be discussed along with, Burrhus F. Skinner and his introduction of operant conditioning and its continued impact on the world of psychology and finally Edward Tolman and his theories of molar vs. molecular, goal-directedness, intervening variable and cognitive maps will be discussed. Each of these philosophers had their own theories regarding behaviorism and each of them had impacts on the behaviorism that we use in today’s psychology. First we will take a look at each of their individual theories on behaviorism, and then we will compare and contract those theories. In conclusion these theories will be reviewed along with the theory that has lasted the test of time. John B. Watson J. B. Watson introduced his psychological school of behavior theory in 1913. His theory was based on the control and prediction of behaviors. He set out to prove his theory with one of his most famous studies of little Albert B. He theorized that children had three basic emotional reactions, love, fear and rage. His experiment set out to prove that he could instill behaviors in Albert and control those behaviors. He began his experiment by introducing Albert to a white rat, when Albert would reach out to touch the rat he then would make a loud noise behind his head causing him to pull away...
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...In its most general sense, Behaviorism, also known as behavioral psychology, is a theory of learning developing as a result of the propositions and beliefs shared by a group of people who has influenced educators’ view of learning. The term behavioral psychology refers to a psychological approach which principally concerned with stimulus-response activities and emphasizes the role of environmental factors in a learning process, to the exclusion of own free will. There is a tenet of behavioral psychology that “only observable, measurable, an outward behavior is worth investigating” (Bush, 2006, p. 14). Historically speaking, behaviorism was originated in the 1880s and develops gradually in the twentieth-first century and beyond. Skinner and...
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...Brief History of Behaviorism Behaviorism and education examines the behavior of a student rather than the mind of a student. The base of behaviorism lies in the understanding of how students verbally or emotionally react to influences or stimuli of external forces (their environment). Behaviorists believe that learning takes place because of a response that follows on a specific stimulus. By repeating the stimuli-response (S-R) cycle, the subject, whether it is animal or human, is conditioned into repeating a response whenever the stimulus is present. Simply put, the sources of a behavior and learning are external (environmental), not internal (scientific psychological processes). Modern Behaviorist take into account that people are not born as blank slates, what they become, how they learn, and what they learn is based on environmental conditioning of outside forces, i.e. parents, teachers, culture, as well as genetic makeup. However, the result of a direct stimuli response does create a chemical response in our brains, which can change our behavior, intelligence, etc. Therefore, learning and behavior are unquestionably affected by positive and stimulating environments, but does not exclusively rely on this. Behaviors and learning are also programmed by events in our past, ideas adopted from other people in our environment, and how our chemical biology responds to this stimulus. When parents, teachers, doctors, and psychologists first began to study children and...
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...Behaviorism Behaviorism is based on the belief that behaviors can be measured, trained, and changed. (1) Behavior is the response to stimuli. It is mainly concerned with observable behavior, not internal events such as thinking and emotion. Humans learn behavior from their individual environments through classical and operant conditioning. Classical Conditioning. Classical Conditioning is “the alteration in responding that occurs when two stimuli are regularly paired in close succession: the response originally given to the second stimulus comes to be given to the first” (2). Pavlov’s Dogs. Ivan Pavlov was a Russian physiologist in the 1890s who did studies on dogs creating “Pavolovian Conditioning” also know as classical conditioning. In his studies he began to look at the correlation between dogs salivating in response to being fed. A dog salivating in response to being fed is not a learned trait but a reflex. The dog salivating is an unconditioned response, which means it requires no learning (3). Pavlov started measuring the salivation secretions in response to being fed (3). Through his studies Pavlov saw that any object or event that the dog associated with being fed would make the dog salivate. “Classical conditioning is "classical" in that it is the first systematic study of basic laws of learning / conditioning” (3)....
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...Learning Journal on Behaviorism According to B.F. Skinner that an understanding of personality will develop from a consideration of the behavioral development of the human organism in continuing interaction with the environment. The organism is in the process of operating on the environment which in ordinary terms means it is a special kind of stimulus called reinforcing stimulus or reinforcement. This stimulus has the effect of increasing the behavior occurring. In operant conditioning the behavior is followed by a consequences and the nature of consequences modifies the organism’s tendency to repeat the behavior in the future. Responses to stimuli can be reinforced with positive or negative feedback to condition desired behaviors. Punishment is sometimes used in eliminating or reducing incorrect actions but Skinner believed that reinforcement is more effective than punishment as a strategy to reduce undesirable behavior. Punishment may be effective in the short-term and severe forms of punishment may lead to negative and destructive consequences which include aggression, escape or avoidance. However, some circumstances warrant punishment, if it is more preferable when reinforcement has not been found to work or when the behavior is more destructive than the punishment itself, then punishment might be justified. Reinforcement is very important in scaffolding our learners. Being a teacher we must know when and how to give reinforcement. Praising, motivating, giving rewards...
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...Behaviorism and Its Effect on the Understanding of Learning AIU Online Abstract This paper focuses on a brief summary on the history of behaviorism, starting with experiments conducted by Franklin Henry Giddings and Ivan Pavlov, a sociologist and a physiologist whom established the groundwork for behaviorism, particularly in America. In addition, this paper also explains the main components of behaviorism, which are classical conditioning and operant conditioning, connectionism, and the contiguity theory. It moves forward to explain four experiments that are popular through the study of behaviorism: the reason behind conditioned salivation in Ivan Pavlov’s dogs, conditioned responses in humans through Watson’s little Albert experiment, Thorndike’s research with cats and a puzzle box to demonstrate the law of effect through the use of reinforcements, and B.F. Skinner’s experiment with rats to prove how an organism learns through operant conditioning. Finally, this paper examines how, according to behaviorists, there are three principles of learning new and intricate behaviors, known as shaping, chaining, and fading. Behaviorism and Its Effect on the Understanding of Learning Behaviorism suggests that an organism learns from its environment. It is the result of the association between a stimulus and a response. An organism learns new behavior through classical or operant conditioning. It is a theory that does not base its ideals on emotions or prior knowledge. Some say behaviorism...
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