Part 3: Behaviorism INTRODUCTION
You will probably think this is funny after you complete your studies for this part of the course.
3.1 Describe the theoretical assumptions about learning that define behaviorism.
3.1 Describe the theoretical assumptions about learning that define behaviorism.
Behaviorism is a systematic approach to understanding the behavior of humans and other animals. The seeds of behaviorism were planted during the establishment of psychology as a genuine and distinct scientific field.
Behaviorism is predicated on a broad theoretical assumption about learning:
Behaviorism is predicated on a broad theoretical assumption about learning:
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Learning is a change in the form or frequency of behavior as a consequence of environmental events.
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This course addresses behaviorism through several specific conditioning theories of learning. A distinctive characteristic of these conditioning theories is that they explain learning in terms of environment (external) stimuli and events…NOT that they deal with behavior (all learning theories do to some extent). While not denying the existence of mental phenomena, conditioning theories contend that such phenomena are not necessary to explain learning.
The material for this part of the course presents a summary of the work developed by five very important scientists who defined the behaviorist approach to learning theory. This material will help you learn how to perform the following two BROAD objectives. More specific learning outcomes will be facilitated on specific scientists' pages.
The material for this part of the course presents a summary of the work developed by five very important scientists who defined the behaviorist approach to learning theory. This material will help you learn how to perform the following two BROAD objectives. More specific learning outcomes will be facilitated on specific scientists' pages.
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3.2 Identify examples of research investigations and describe major theoretical and/or scientific contributions defining the behaviorist’s perspective on learning by Thorndike, Pavlov, Watson, Guthrie and Skinner.
3.3 Describe and identify examples and components of the following fundamental components of behaviorism theory: Laws of Effect, Exercise & Readiness; Classical conditioning; Contiguous conditioning; Operant conditioning |
Although many scientists contributed to the definition of behaviorism as a theory describing how people learn, one of the most influential and important in the early stages of behavioral research was Edward L. Thorndike.