Upchurch Shawna EDUC 205 Learning Theory Paper

* Behaviorism: The school of psychology that views observable, measureable behavior and emphasizes the key role of the environment as a determinant of a behavior.

Operant conditioning influences and molds behavior by maintaining it with consequences. For example, if Timmy gets a sticker on the board for good behavior he’s going to come to class and be good, right? Nevertheless, Timmy’s behavior hasn’t always been this way, he used to break the rules daily. Due to operant conditioning his behavior changes and now he knows what is expected of him. Thus, it is very helpful in showing how people gain new behavior. Classical conditioning uses two stimuli that will without a doubt always cause an involuntary or a spontaneous response. To include, a hunger response when you smell food, crying when you feel pain. Classical conditioning is associated with everyday life.

Unlike classical and contiguity theories which are ultimately based on the association, operant conditioning is a learning strategy in which behaviour is influenced by the threat of consequence or punishment - such as having to repeat a test if mistakes are made.

In closing, Behaviorism focuses on observable actions rather than the internal aspects of individuals. Behaviorists believe that it is the environment rather than thoughts and emotion that affect an individual's behavior. Together both John B. Watson and B.F. Skinner shaped both the school of Behaviorism and the world of Psychology in general.

In behavioral psychology there is classical conditioning and operant conditioning, both processes lead to learning. There are several differences between these two conditioning. To be a classical conditioning there must be a reflex behavior in the association. As for an operant conditioning it doesn’t require a reflex association, but much rather a purposeful behavior. Classical conditioning involves pairing stimulus to stimulus and is an involuntary response. Operant conditioning is quite different, its focuses on the purpose of behavior voluntarily and it involves the receiving a reward or punishment to a behavioral response. Operant conditioning consists of organisms being active and is subject to positive or negative consequence. Each of

Behaviorism is a school of thought in psychology based on the assumption that learning occurs through interactions with the environment. Two other assumptions of this theory are that the environment shapes behavior and that taking internal mental states such as thoughts, feelings and emotions into consideration is useless in explaining behavior.

Classical and Operant conditioning have slight differences on what produces the response. An environmental stimulus will produce the response in classical conditioning such as the ant hill example above; on the other hand, behavior will produce the response in operative conditioning such as the example of the child’s behavior above. Future behaviors can be controlled through consequences such as punishment and reinforcement in operant conditioning. An example is that of the same child above; if a child is awarded for good behavior by receiving minutes on the phone or computer that child is more likely to try and listen to his or her parents. However if that same child was to act badly at home by throwing a fit or disrespecting others he or she would have an item taken away or grounded for an amount of time. The child may think twice next time about his or her actions to avoid the consequences. The

Classical conditioning is a behavioral intervention technique by means of two stimuli being paired together in a consistent pattern to result in the same behavioral response. Pavlov was looking at salivation in dogs in response to being fed. His notion was that dogs can be taught to do certain things, for example dogs salivating when they see food. Operant conditioning is a similar technique that aims on the association between voluntary behavior and consequences. Skinner believed that subjects

Summary: Behaviorism is a worldview that operates on a principle of “stimulus-response.” All behavior caused by external stimuli (operant conditioning). All behavior can be explained without the need to consider internal mental states or consciousness.

Behaviorism takes on many forms, B.F. Skinner liked to call his form of behaviorism Operant Conditioning. He would rather study observable behavior rather than internal mental events. He felt that was the best way to see how one may react to a particular stimuli and how one would handle the situation. Skinner believed that if a behavior is reinforced the behavior will continue. This had a two sided effect. If the bad behavior was reinforced the bad behavior would continue. Such as the good behavior, if it is reinforced and rewarded, the good behavior will continue. Albert Bandura is another theorist that I find interesting and directly related to my area of study. Unlike Skinner, he believed that people learned by watching others. His theory and Skinners theories are different but work together, you could not have operant conditioning unless you have cognitive process.

Behaviorism itself is the study of all observable behaviors we exhibit. More importantly, behaviorism explores ways to influence these behaviors using positive and negative reinforcements. Some may consider this as a form of manipulation, but it’s important to remember that manipulation isn’t always a bad thing! The study of behaviorism has, in many ways, shaped what we know about the human condition, and also raised many questions.

Looking back on my school years, I think about all the teachers that I have had. I then ponder on the many classmates that I shared so many wonderful times with. One of the main problems that I can remember about school is the ones concerning behavior. I can recall every teacher having to deal with some type of behavioral problem at some point during the duration of the school year. It is apparent that these types of problems will be something that I will have to deal with as an upcoming teacher. This is where behaviorism comes into play. If I can incorporate this into my classroom then I will be able to be a better educator.

Behaviorism is a worldview, which operates under a stimulus response principle. Every behavior is caused by an operating condition (external stimuli). Moreover, behaviors can be described without necessarily considering internal states or consciousness of mind. It basically assumes that a learner is passive, reacting to stimuli from the environment. Initially, the learner is a clean slate (tabula rasa) and the shaping of behavior is through positive as well as negative reinforcement. Both the reinforcements raise the possibility that the precursor behavior will occur again.

Classical conditioning and operant conditioning are both psychological ways of learning. Classical conditioning is learning by taking something neutral and associating it with something that already creates a certain response. For example, if you take something that is not scary like a baby doll and combine it with scary make-up and eerie music, you have changed the response of the once neutral doll, to have the same response as you would get with scary make-up and eerie music. It can take something you once loved, such as a baby doll, and turn it into something completely different, like a fear of the baby doll. Could you imagine having your favorite toy turn into your worst nightmare? Operant conditioning is learning from what outcomes came from certain behaviors in the past and how that affects future behavior. For example, if you behave badly in school and are suspended you will learn from the end results of those actions and it will affect if you behave badly again. Taking into consideration that the last time you behaved badly in school you were suspended for the rest of the year and were made to retake the entire school year over again, it may deter you from behaving badly again because you do not wish to go through that punishment again.

"Operant conditioning is a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened when followed by a reinforced (reward) or diminished by a punishment"(Ingleby, Joyce, Powell, 2010, pg65)