Behaviorism

By:NicoleO’Neill

CONTENT

What is behaviorism?

Founders of Behavioristic Psychology

Classroom Implications

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Click the picture below a psychologists name to learn more.

John B. Watson B. F. Skinner Ivan Pavlov

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Ivan Pavlov(1849-1936)

Known for the classic experiment with a dog that

greatly impacted behavioristic psychology.

In Pavlov’s experiment with the dog he was working with, he

discovered that a conditioned stimulus would lead to a conditioned response.

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John B. Watson(1878-1958)

Principle originator of behavioristic psychology.

Watson first claimed that human behavior consisted of

specific stimuli that resulted in certain responses.

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B. F. Skinner(1904-1990)

Best-known promoter of behavioristic psychology.

Skinner developed a more comprehensive view of conditioning

known as operant (type R) conditioning.

“The things we call pleasant have an energizing or strengthening effect on

our behaviour.” (Skinner)

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Define: Behaviorism

Behaviorism is based on the principle that desirable human behavior can be the product of design rather than accident.

According to behaviorists, although we may act as if we are free, our behavior is really determined by forces in the environment

that shape our behavior.

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… a brief cartoon of Pavlov’s classic experiment!

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Some teachers are working hard to implement behaviorism into their daily lesson.

One teacher created her own systematic approach and even received confirmation of her success when her students scored the highest on the state’s annual basic skills test.

Behaviorism inside the classroom…

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Ms. June Day

• Teaches 4th grade•Primary method: individualized instruction

-students proceed at their ownpace through modules she hasput together-complex point system to keeptrack of students’ progress -points motivate students tohigher level of achievement

“It’s really quite simple. Students just do much better when you tell them exactly

what you want them to know and then reward them for

learning it.” (Day)

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Authors Opinion

The key points involved in the behavioristic learning theory are quite intriguing. Evidence shows success in education through the

behavioristic learning approach. Such evidence leads myself to believe that

if I take a similar approach in my future classroom, I can also achieve

success through my students’ learning. I plan to categorically use

many tactics of behaviorism like positive reinforcement in my daily

lessons.

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