1. Behaviorism
By
Alexander V.

2. Theory (Menu)
• What?
• Who?
• How?
• My Classroom

3. What is it?
• Behaviorism, also called the learning perspective.
• Theory about human or animal psychology.
• Can be studied through examination events.
• Only observable behaviors should be studied.
• Can be measured, trained, and changed.
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4. What is it? (Cont.)
• Important concepts such classical conditioning, operant conditioning,
and reinforcement have arisen from behaviorism.
• Operant Conditioning:
• Stimulus -- Response -- Reinforcement.
• A specific action can cause a desired response
with reinforcement.
• Classical Conditioning:
• Stimulus: Response
• Action causes the response.
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5. Who?
• Three men associated with this theory are B.F. Skinner, Ivan Pavlov
and Dr. Watson.
• Ivan Pavlov investigated classical conditioning.
• John B. Watson sought to restrict psychology to experimental lab
methods.
• B.F. Skinner sought to give ethical grounding to behaviorism.
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6. Who? (cont.)
• B. F. Skinner (Burrhus Frederic Skinner): March 20, 1904-August 18,
1990.
• A psychologist born in Pennsylvania.
• Earned his doctorate from Harvard.
• There he began working on ideas of human behavior.
• Walden Two defined his theory of behaviorism.
• Influenced by nurture over nature.
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7. How?
• Teacher-directed, systematic, and structure environments lead to
behaviorist learning.
• Behaviorism deals with consequences (rewarded or punished) of
behavior.
• Rewards consist of praise of some sort. (stickers, treats, food, and
shopping)
• Punishment consists of no play time, removal, etc.
• Reward reinforcements can strengthen/increase behaviors.
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8. How? (cont.)
• Instruction that is consistent with this theory include:
• teaching sequences of skills
• clearly stated objectives with matched test items
• more individualized work than group work
• traditional teaching and assessment methods
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9. How? (cont.)
• In Math, students can recall facts for immediate rewards.
• In Reading, students can use flash cards with partners for immediate
feedback.
• A good example of this would be use of a computer lab.
• Students will get immediate feedback.
• They will learn the use of a computer and its parts.
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10. My Classroom
• I would definitely use the behaviorist theory in my classroom.
• I believe good reinforcement can encourage a good response.
• For a reward, I would use extra credit.
• Rewards will definitely motivate the students.
• As a student, rewards helped to motivate me.
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11. My Classroom (cont.)
• A behaviorist classroom is also very structured and has prepared
lesson plans each day.
• Here is a quick review of the Behaviorist Theory.
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