Laura Trevino
EDCI 6304.60
Assignment 14P
Assignment number 14P
1.
In lecture number two, Prof. P. describes the desire to have a universal explanation for
learning. By 1960, the universal theory was behaviorism, or "conditioning" paradigms for
learning. First, give a BRIEF explanation of how behaviorism works, and then give one example
of one incident of learning that you may have experienced, or have seen other people
experience, that contradicts the tenets of behaviorism. (The example you provide is worth 50%
of the assignment. Don't provide something trivial or your grade will reflect that lack of
reflective thought. Excessive, extraneous details are not necessary. Making sense in few words
is.)
Behaviorism can be associated to classical conditioning and operant conditioning. Classical
conditioning associates two things that stimulate a response. It takes three things for humans or
animals to associate: repetition, temporal contiguity, and differential contingency. Operant
condition emphasizes association between behaviors and consequences. Rewards and
punishments are consequences of behavior. Once associations are made between behavior and
consequences, the behavior varies accordingly.
I come from a large family, eight to be exact, that were raised by the same parents. The older
half of the siblings (including myself) are, what I consider, responsible. We graduated high
school, 3 out of 4 have a Bachelors degree, and 2 out of 4 have obtained a Masters (soon I will
join the Masters group). We all have a “normal” marriage, live at our own house, and try to have
a life style that does not have negative consequences. The bottom half of the siblings are what I
would describe as relaxed, carefree, and content. 1 out of 4 has a Bachelors degree and is now
pursuing a Masters. One of the three younger children holds a technical degree and is our future
doctor. The other two, do not have a degree, they do not have a home, and hold insecure jobs
that are constantly changing. My point is that if all of us had the same parents, we all had the
same negative or positive consequences for our behavior, and we all heard the same wrath
coming from our parents not once but two or three times, why was it that our visions were
different? I constantly remember my mother repeating expectations, rewarding
accomplishments, and celebrating success for all of us. We are a family that supports each other
and want everyone to be successful. I believe that the association was not made or the reward
was not altered to strengthen the association. There is still improvement to be made if not for
themselves then for their children.
Pasupathi, P. (2012). How We Learn. Chantilly, Virginia: The Teaching Company.