Behavioral learning theory states that positive reinforcement (a reward) can be used to motivate students. Thus, a student who receives a gold star, a piece of candy, or praise from the teacher for getting a good grade is getting positive reinforcement, and this serves as motivation for them to continue doing well. Positive reinforcement dovetails with repetition, so students are conditioned to repeat those behaviors (studying for tests, turning in homework, etc.), which rewards them (Western Governors, 2020).
Strategies Based on Behaviorism
According to Western Governors University (2020), there are numerous teaching strategies based on behaviorist tenets. These include:
- Drills: Drills help learners master new skills through repetition.
- Guided Practice: Teachers can guide students through problems, showing them the behaviors required for task completion.
- Regular Review: Regular reviews reinforce previous learning and aid retention.
- Positive reinforcement: Positive reinforcement, in whatever form, promotes the behaviors the instructor wants students to learn.
Key concepts and principles of behaviorism include:
- Stimulus-Response (S-R) Model: Behaviorists propose that behavior is a reaction to external stimuli. In this view, behaviors are learned responses to specific stimuli in the environment.
- Conditioning: Behaviorism emphasizes the role of conditioning in learning. There are two main types of conditioning:
- Classical Conditioning: This involves associating a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus to create a conditioned response. Ivan Pavlov’s experiments with dogs, where he conditioned them to salivate at the sound of a bell, are a classic example.
- Operant Conditioning: This focuses on the consequences of behavior. Behaviors are strengthened or weakened based on the rewards or punishments they receive. B.F. Skinner is a prominent figure associated with operant conditioning.
- Behavior Modification: Behaviorists believe that behaviors can be modified or changed through various techniques, such as reinforcement (positive or negative), punishment, and shaping. These techniques are used to encourage desired behaviors and discourage undesired ones.
- Observable Behavior: Behaviorism places a strong emphasis on studying and analyzing behaviors that can be directly observed and measured. It often ignores mental processes, emotions, and subjective experiences.
- Environmental Determinism: Behaviorists argue that the environment plays a central role in shaping behavior. They believe that by controlling and manipulating environmental factors, one can predict and influence behavior.
- Tabula Rasa: Behaviorism often starts with the assumption that individuals are born as blank slates (tabula rasa) and that their behaviors are shaped entirely by their experiences and interactions with the environment.
Behaviorism has been influential in various fields, including psychology, education, and therapy. In education, for example, behaviorist principles have been used to design instructional programs and classroom management strategies. In therapy, behavior therapy techniques are used to treat a wide range of psychological disorders and behavioral issues.
It’s important to note that behaviorism is just one of many psychological theories, and contemporary psychology also recognizes the importance of cognitive processes, emotions, and internal mental states in understanding human behavior. While behaviorism has its strengths in explaining certain aspects of behavior, it has also been criticized for its limited focus on observable behaviors and neglect of cognitive processes.