Behaviorism is a foundational theory in psychology and education, positing that behaviors are acquired through conditioning, with key figures including John B. Watson and B.F. Skinner. It encompasses concepts like classical conditioning, where a natural stimulus prompts a response, and operant conditioning, which involves reinforcement and punishment to shape behavior. Despite criticisms regarding its focus on observable behavior and neglect of cognitive processes, behaviorism continues to influence educational practices and therapeutic approaches today.

1. BEHAVIORISM
A Foundational Theory in Psychology
and Education
Miss Escalante

2. Introduction
• Definition: Behaviorism is a theory of learning which states that
all behaviors are acquired through conditioning.
• Key Proponents:
• Scope: Focuses on observable and measurable aspects of behavior.

3. Historical Background
• Early Origins: Established in the early 20th century
by John B. Watson.
• Influence of Ivan Pavlov: Pavlov’s work on classical
conditioning laid the foundation for behaviorism.
• B.F. Skinner's Contribution: Skinner expanded
behaviorism through his work on operant conditioning.

4. “Give me a dozen healthy infants, well-formed,
and my own special world to bring them up in and
I’ll guarantee to take any one at random and train
him to be any type of specialist I might select – a
doctor, a lawyer, artist, even a thief…”
-Watson 1924

5. Key Concepts of Behaviorism
• Classical Conditioning (Pavlov):
- Learning occurs when a natural stimulus is paired
with a neutral stimulus, eventually eliciting a
conditioned response.
Example: Pavlov’s dogs salivating to the sound of a
bell.
• Operant Conditioning (Skinner):
- Behavior is shaped by reinforcement and
punishment.
- Positive reinforcement increases the likelihood of a
behavior; punishment decreases it.

6. Classical Conditioning
• Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS): Naturally triggers
a response (e.g., food causing salivation).
• Conditioned Stimulus (CS): Previously neutral
stimulus that, after being paired with UCS, triggers a
response (e.g., bell sound).
• Unconditioned Response (UCR): Natural
response to UCS (e.g., salivation).
• Conditioned Response (CR): Learned response to
the conditioned stimulus (e.g., salivating to bell).

8. Operant Conditioning
• Reinforcement: Encourages repetition of a behavior.
- Positive Reinforcement: Adding something pleasant
to strengthen behavior (e.g., rewards).
- Negative Reinforcement: Removing something
unpleasant to strengthen behavior (e.g., removing
restrictions).
• Punishment: Discourages repetition of a behavior.
- Positive Punishment: Adding an undesirable
consequence (e.g., extra chores).
- Negative Punishment: Removing a desirable
outcome (e.g., taking away privileges).

10. Classical Conditioning vs. Operant Conditioning

11. Schedules of Reinforcement
• Continuous Reinforcement: Behavior is reinforced every
time it occurs.
• Partial Reinforcement: Behavior is reinforced only some
of the time. Types include:

12. Applications of Behaviorism in Education
• Behavior Modification: Teachers can use
reinforcement to encourage positive behaviors and
discourage negative behaviors.
• Classroom Management: Reward systems, such as
gold stars or praise, can shape classroom behavior.
• Instructional Design: Break tasks into small steps
and provide immediate feedback.

13. Criticisms of
Behaviorism

14. • Ignores Internal Mental States: Critics argue
behaviorism overlooks cognitive processes like
thoughts, emotions, and problem-solving.
• Limited to Observable Behavior: It cannot explain
behaviors that arise without direct reinforcement or
punishment.
• Ethical Concerns: Some critics argue that strict
control of behavior can be manipulative.

15. Legacy and
Continuing
Influence of
Behaviorism

16. • Impact on Modern Psychology:
- Behaviorism influenced the development of
applied behavior analysis (ABA), widely used in
therapeutic settings.
• Use in Everyday Life:
- Behaviorist principles are used in parenting,
workplace management, advertising, and more.

18. Conclusions
• Summary:
- Behaviorism has been foundational in
psychology and education, focusing on the idea that
behavior is learned through interactions with the
environment.
- Despite criticism, its principles continue to
inform educational practices and behavior
modification programs.
• Final Thought:
- Understanding behaviorism is essential for
those working in fields of education, psychology, and
social sciences.

19. Check yourself!
Can you come up with language teaching
examples of:
– Classical Conditioning (use all the right labels)
– Operant Conditioning (again, use all the right
labels)
– Positive and Negative Reinforcement
– Punishment