Behaviorism is based on three key ideas: 1) Behavior is determined by external stimuli in one's environment. 2) Behavior can be observed and predicted over time. 3) Desirable behaviors can be encouraged through rewards while undesirable behaviors can be discouraged through consequences or punishment.

1. Behaviorism Key Ideas
Deterministic- The way you act is determined by
external stimuli provided by the culture in which you
live.
Observable- Over time the individual develops a
“behavioral repertoire” (Steinberg, 1980) that can be
used to predict behavior.
Controllable- Desirable behaviors can be brought
about by incentives; undesirable behaviors can be
eradicated by consequences or punishment.

2. John B. Watson
Watson changed the focus of psychology from
introspection, to environmentalism.
The principles of learning would account for
the largest share of behavioral development and
are exercised almost exclusively through
environmental learning opportunities provided
for children. (reflected in cultural diversity &
learning studies)

3. John B. Watson
He believed that environmental shaping of behavior
began prenatally, and focused his studies on infants
and children.
He demonstrated the conditioned response in the
case of “Little Albert”(Watson, 1925), who was
exposed to an alarming noise and a rat at the same
time, and developed not only a fear of rats, but
transferred the fear to all furry objects.

4. John B. Watson
Credited with “Definitional standards for
stimuli and response and criteria for making
objective and reliable observations can be
traced back to Watson and continue to
characterize acceptable investigatory practices
today.”(Horowitz, 1992)

5. E.L. Thorndike
First scientific theory of learning- Theory of
Connectionism
Comprehensive analogy of human learning-
Three volume work, Educational Psychology
( 1913a, 1913b, 1914 )
Initial work with animal learning in laboratory
setting- cat in box experiment”

6. Thorndike’s Theory of Connectionism
Law of Effect
If Situation + Response is followed by a positive
consequence then the connection between the
Situation + Response is strengthened.
If Situation + Response is followed by a negative
consequence then the connection between the
Situation + Response is weakened.

7. In Thorndike’s words:
“When a modifiable connection between an situation and
a response is made and is accompanied or followed by a
satisfying state of affairs, that connection’s strength is
increased: When made or accompanied or followed by an
annoying state of affairs, the strength is decreased.”
(Thorndike, 1913b)
Note: Thorndike(1932) later modified the Law of Effect
when research showed that while positive consequences
strengthened connections, negative consequences did not
necessarily weaken them.
“Spare the reward, spoil the child”
by E.L. Thorndike

8. The Big Idea
Consequences of behavior effect behavior,
responses resulting in satisfying
consequences are learned.
Behavioral theories explain learning in
terms of environmental events.

9. Operant Conditioning
As an organism is operating in its
environment, it happens upon a
reinforcing stimulus, or reinforcer.
This reinforcer then causes the
organism to continue the operant, or
event that occurred right before the
stimulus. If an operant is no longer
followed by a reinforcer, extinction of
the operant behavior will occur.

10. Inventions
Operant conditioning chamber or “Skinner Boxes”
- rats would press on a bar to receive a food (positive
reinforcement), or could be set up to give an electric
shock (negative reinforcement).
- pigeons would peck to receive food if a light was on, but
not receive food when a light was off.
Extinction of the operant behavior occurs when you stop
giving the rat a food pellet as a reward for pushing the
pedal.
Cumulative recorder –records the rate of response of the
animal in the operant conditioning chamber
Air Crib – a crib that maintained constant temperature and
humidity, easy to clean.

11. Operant Conditioning Chambers

12. Schedules of Reinforcement
Continuous Reinforcement – every time the rat does the
correct behavior, it is reinforced with food.
Fixed Ratio Schedule – there is a fixed ratio between
correct behaviors and reinforcement, i.e., 5 pedal pushes to
one food pellet.
Fixed Interval Schedule – rat can push the pedal at least
once or possibly many more of times per every 30 seconds,
but will get only one food pellet.
Variable Schedules – variable ratio means you change the
amount of pedal pushes needed to receive the food pellet,
and variable interval means you change the time period.

13. Shaping
Shaping can be used to help an animal to behave
in a manner that it would never do in its ordinary
daily patterns.
Shaping occurs when a reward is given if the
animal does a behavior that is even slightly close
to the desired behavior. Then, as the animal
continues to exhibit the behavior that closer and
closer resembles the desired action, rewards are
given. Eventually, the desired behavior will
exist. (ie. Pigeons that bowl or play ping pong.)

14. Learning Hierarchies:
Learning is a process; you must know and
understand lower level skills before advancing
to higher level skills. Therefore to teach a skill
a teacher must first identify its prerequisite
skills and make sure that the students posses
them.

15. Robert M. Gagne
The 9 Events of Instruction:
These guidelines will allow teachers to reach optimal conditions
of learning:
 Gaining Attention
 Informing the learner of the objective
 Stimulating recall of prerequisite learning
 Presenting new material
 Providing learning guidance
 Eliciting performance
 Providing feedback about correctness
 Assessing performance
 Enhancing retention and recall