Behaviorism Blog Post

Behaviorism

A Brief Explanation of Behaviorism

Behaviorism is a psychological theory that focuses on observable behaviors as the focal point of a study for understanding behaviors of living beings. It became popular and widely renowned through out the early 20th century with notable figures such as John B. Watson and B.F. Skinner at the forefront of its development. It is the overarching study of the behaviors that are created either consciously or subconsciously. Classical conditioning and operant conditioning are the two methods of studying behaviorism. Classical is creating a response to a stimulous. Operant is creating a new behavior through positive or negative reinforcement. 

Personal Example of Behaviorism

My 7th grade students have learned to sit down promptly when the bell rings due to classical conditioning. Through consistent pairing of the bell ringing (neutral stimulus) with the subsequent action of sitting in a chair (unconditioned response), I have created an association where the bell itself elicits the behavior of sitting. Over time, the bell ringing becomes a conditioned stimulus that triggers the conditioned response of sitting down. This process of classical conditioning has been instrumental in establishing a routine where the sound of the bell serves as a signal for the students to take their seats, illustrating the power of associative learning in shaping behavior within the classroom environment. I shared this in my video recordining

In my 7th grade classroom, I effectively utilize operant conditioning to reinforce work timeliness among my students. By implementing a system of positive reinforcement, I reward students who complete their work promptly with various incentives, such as extra free time, privileges, or small rewards. Through consistent application of this reinforcement, students come to associate timely completion of tasks with positive outcomes, thereby increasing the likelihood of them repeating this behavior in the future. 

Strengths of Behaviorism

One strength of behaviorism lies in its systematic approach to breaking down behaviors into individual elements, allowing for precise analysis and understanding of observable actions. By dissecting behaviors into smaller components, behaviorists can identify specific stimuli that trigger responses and the consequences that follow, providing valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying behavior. Additionally, behaviorism emphasizes the importance of identifying the reasons why behaviors occur, focusing on environmental factors and observable events rather than abstract internal processes. This emphasis on causality facilitates practical applications in fields such as education, therapy, and animal training, where understanding the antecedents and consequences of behavior is essential for effective intervention and behavior modification.

Weaknesses of Behaviorism 

Despite its strengths, behaviorism has notable weaknesses that stem from its narrow focus on observable behaviors while neglecting the complexities of humanity and human nature. By disregarding internal mental processes such as thoughts, emotions, and motivations, behaviorism overlooks the rich and intricate inner experiences that shape human behavior. This limitation can result in a reductionist view of individuals, failing to capture the full depth and uniqueness of human nature. Moreover, behaviorism's heavy reliance on external factors for explaining behavior can pose challenges in real-world applications, particularly when dealing with unknown variables or unpredictable circumstances. While consistency is essential in behaviorist techniques such as reinforcement and punishment, the need for unwavering consistency may be impractical or unrealistic in dynamic and unpredictable environments, highlighting a significant limitation of behaviorism in understanding and addressing human behavior comprehensively.

Operant Conditioning Example

References

McLeod, S. (2023, June 14). Classical conditioning: How it works with examples. Simple Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/classical-conditioning.html

Cherry, K. (2023, May 1). What is classical conditioning in psychology?: How it works, terms to know, and examples. verywell mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/classical-conditioning-2794859

Pavlov, I. P. (1997). Excerpts from the work of the digestive glands. American Psychologist, 52(9), 936-940. doi:https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.52.9.936

BrainPsychLopedia. (2023, March 18). What are the reinforcement schedules in operant conditioning? YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1nElUf-MA8

Cherry, K. (2023, February 24). What is operant conditioning and how does it work?. verywell mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/operant-conditioning-a2-2794863.

Funny Clips Factory. (2022, April 21). Funny moments "The Office" - Another Dwight experiment by Jim. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9V-WdbFtqI.

Zarhejo. (2009, October 6). The Big Bang Theory - Sheldon trains Penny [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qy_mIEnnlF4