Behaviorism
By Sarah Kidwell
Ivan
1
Pavlov
B.F.
Skinner2
Alberto
Bandura3
Key
4
Points
• Behaviorism:
• Is a doctrine
• Views human learning through an objective, scientific lense
• Places humans on an equal behavioral footing with animals
Behaviorism & The
4
Teacher
• Teachers:
• Focus only on behavior of students
• Use positive and negative reinforcement
• Direct behavior rather than develop critical thinking
• Teachers may accomplish these goals by:
• Using computer time as a reward for desired behavior
• Putting a student into a corner for undesired behavior
• Focusing on math, history, and science over reading and writing
Behaviorism & The Student4
• Students:
• Are not allowed introspection
• Focus on achieving rewards or avoiding punishment
• Students may accomplish these goals by:
• Performing in-class experiments without evaluating the results
• Using an overhead projector for math without discussing it with
classmates
My Thoughts on Behaviorism
• I do not think behaviorism has a place in the classroom and do not
find it practical for teaching at all. Teachers should encourage
children to think critically, to self-evaluate, and to process on high
cognitive levels. Focusing on behavior rather than overall attitude
will lead to children acting out. Even if the desired result it is
achieved, it is not through means that create the best future active
citizen.
Get Ready for a Quiz!
• The following slides will test your knowledge of the information
you have just read about behaviorism.
• When presented with a question, click on what you believe to be
the correct answer.
Question One: Who of the following is one
of the key figures of behaviorism?
Alberto Bandit
Alberto
Bandura
Carlo Bandura
Sigmund
Freud
OOPS!
• You picked the wrong answer!
• It’s okay!
• Click here to go back and try again!
YAY!
• You picked the right answer!
• Good job!
• Click to continue!
Question Two: Teachers adhering to
behaviorism focus on what?
Fitness
and
Nutrition
Behavior
Critical
Thinking
Dependence
On Authority
UH-OH!
• You picked the wrong answer!
• You’re still awesome!
• Click here to go back and try again!
WOW!
• You picked the right answer again!
• You are the best!
• Click to continue!
Question Three: Behaviorism views human
learning in what way?
Emotionally
Diversely
Indifferently
Scientifically
WHOOPS!
• Your answer is incorrect!
• Nice try!
• Click here to go back and try again!
OMG!
• You picked a third correct answer!
• You have a nice brain!
• Click to continue!
Question Four: Students of behaviorism are
not allowed what?
Reinforce
ment
To Laugh
Introspection
Family
OH NO !
• You chose wrong!
• Nice try!
• Click here to go back and try again!
HOORAY!
• You finished the quiz!
• You are great!
• Click to continue!
Sources
1. http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/1904
/pavlov-bio.html
2. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/databank/entries/bhskin.html
3. http://www.criminology.fsu.edu/crimtheory/bandura.htm
4. http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/behaviorism/