Behaviorism
By:
Marie Isabel Hernandez
Violet Torres
Mary Martinez
Maria Carrillo
Irene Sojak
What is Behaviorism?
• A theory of learning based on the idea that
behaviors are acquired through
conditioning. The conditioning occurs
through the interaction with the
environment.
http://psychology.about.com/od/behavioralpsychology/f/behaviorism.htm?p=1
Behavioral Learning Theory
• B.F. Skinner (1904-1990)
• Operant Conditioning
• Conditions and Consequences
Classroom Observation
• Learning Club Preschool (daycare)
• Age range from 1 ½ - 6 years old
• Number of Students: 13 in the toddler group
and 5 in the young children group
• Student demographics
• Length of Observation: 40 minutes
Classroom Findings
• Instructor: Teacher Roxanne
• Instruction
• Students
• Teacher-student interaction
• Student-student interaction
• Class management
• Assessment
• Curriculum
Relevance of the Theory
• Observation = Behavioral Learning Theory
Positive
Reinforcement
•Verbal praise
•High-five
•Chance to go
to a station
Negative
Reinforcement
•Teacher
completing
part of
assignment
•No
assignment
required
Punishment
•Teacher took
away scissors
•Students had
to pick up
their mess
Argument for Behaviorism
We agree with B.F. Skinner’s theory that
many of the voluntary responses of animals and
humans are strengthened when they are
reinforced and weakened when they are either
ignored or punished.
•
•
•
•
Positive Reinforcement
Negative Reinforcement
Punishment
We believe to a certain extent and limit.
Reinforcement and Punishment
Comparison
REINFORCEMENT
(Behavior Increases)
PUNISHMENT
(Behavior Decreases)
Positive
+(Something is
added)
Positive Reinforcement
Positive Punishment
Negative –
(Something is
removed)
Negative Reinforcement
Negative Punishment
Is to add a reinforcer that results in
increasing the behavior.
Ex. Mother gives her son candy for
cleaning up his toys.
Is to remove an aversive
stimulus(neg. reinforcer) that
results increasing the behavior.
Ex. A group of students are working
at their desks after the teacher has
stated that they will not be required
to do homework assignments that
weekend if their classroom
assignments are completed before
the end of the day.
Decreasing (weakening) a target
behavior by adding an aversive
stimulus after the behavior
occurs.
Ex. Student is sent to the office
for hitting a classmate.
Removal of something that
results in reduction of the
behavior.
Ex. Make student miss
computer time for yelling at the
teacher.
http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/index.php?title=Behaviorism
Practical/Pedagogical Implication
• Using Positive
Reinforcement is helpful in
the classroom.
• Students liked to be
praised while they were
working on the activity.
• By giving Positive
Reinforcement helps the
child to be disciplined.
Summary
Behaviorism
Operant Conditioning
Positive
Reinforcement
Negative
Reinforcement
Punishment
Works Cited
“Advantages and Disadvantages of using positive and negative reinforcement” 23 June 2011.
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=0&oq=advantages+and+disadv
antages+of+using+positive+and+neg&ie=UTF8&rlz=1T4ADRA_enUS436US436&q=adv
antages+and+disadvantages+of+using+positive+and+negative+reinforcement+manag
ement+essay
Cherry, Kendra. What is Behaviorism? Web. 23 June 2011.
http://psychology.about.com/od/behavioralpsychology/f/behaviorism.htm?p=1
“Consequences of Behavior”. 23 of June 2011.
http://www.education.com/reference/article/consequences-behavior/
Dr. C. George Boeree. Personal Theories. Biography Web. 23 June 2011.
<http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/skinner.html>.
Dr. Christopher L. Heffner. Psychology 101 Chapter 4: Learning Theory and Behavioral Psychology.
Web. 23 June 2011.
Negative Reinforcement”. 24 June 2011.
http://wik.ed.uiuc.edu/index.php/Negative_reinforcement
Sadker, David and Karen R. Zittleman. Teachers, Schools, and Society. A Brief Introduction to
Education. Boston: McGraw Hill Custom Publishing, 2007. Print.
Snowman, Jack and Rick McCown. Psychology Applied to Teaching. United States: Wadsworth,
2012. Print.
Standridge, Melissa. Emerging Perspectives on Learning, Teaching and
Technology.”Behaviorism”. 24 June 2011.
http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/index.php?title=Behaviorism
Any Questions?