The document discusses the behaviorist approach to learning. It states that behaviorism treats humans as a blank slate at birth and defines learning as observable changes in behavior based on environmental stimuli and consequences. The behaviorist role is to provide relevant stimuli to elicit a response and use positive and negative feedback to encourage or discourage behaviors. Learning occurs through classical and operant conditioning. However, critics argue that behaviorism does not account for cognitive processes and individual differences in learning.

1. BEHAVIORIST APPROACH TO
LEARNING
D r . I s h r a t N a a z
A s s t . P r o f e s s o r
S O E , G a l g o t i a s U n i v e r s i t y
Approaches to Learning
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Approaches to Learning (Dr. Ishrat Naaz)

2. Behaviorist Approach to Learning
 Treats humans as a blank slate at birth
 Watson started the approach after rejecting the
intro-spectionist approach
 He modified the approach to provide more realistic
explanations of how learning can occur
 Confined to observable & measurable behavior
 In this approach, Learning is defined by the
outward expression of new behaviors & context
that is independent.
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3. Behaviorist Approach to Learning
 Learning is based on the notion that learners
respond to stimuli in their environment.
 Role of the learning facilitator is only to provide
relevant & useful stimuli to make learner respond to
& gain the required knowledge or experience.
 Believes that appropriate behavior can be taught
through repetition of tasks combined with feedback
from the facilitator.
 Positive feedback helps in encouraging & reinforces
success whereas negative feedback discourages the
repetition of a mistake or undesirable behavior.
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4. In the words of Watson,
 “Give me a dozen healthy infants, well –
informed, & my own specified world to bring
them up in & I’ll guarantee to take any one at
random & train him to become any type of
specialist, I might select – doctor, lawyer,
artist, merchant chief and yes, even beggar
man and thief, regardless of his talent,
penchants, tendencies, vocations, and race of
his ancestors.”
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5. Assumptions of Behaviorist Approach
 The behaviorist approach assumes that everything
about human behavior is learnt through experience
 Classical or Operant Conditioning are the
modes of learning
 Classical learning involves learning with association
 Operant conditioning involves learning based on the
consequences of actions = rewards and punishment
(consequences)
 Behavior is a result of stimulus-response.
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6. Advantages
 Behavioristic approach focuses on observable &
measurable behavior
 Research methods used are scientific, easy to
replicate and test
 Helps in identifying behaviorism as a scientific
discipline.
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7. Disadvantages
 Fails to explain why people are sometimes frightened
of things they have no experience of.
 This approach doesn’t take innate factors into
account.
 There is no role for free will in this approach
 This approach doesn’t take into account the cognitive
abilities.
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8. Criticism
 Doesn’t account for processes taking place in the
mind that cannot be observed
 It advocates for passive student learning in a
teacher-centric environment
 This approach proposes that one size fits all (no
individual differences)
 As per this theory knowledge itself is given &
absolute
 There is programmed instruction & teacher proofing
in this approach.
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