"Behaviorist" theory

• Better known as the psychology theory.

• Behaviorism can be defined as the idea that all behaviors are acquired through conditioning.

• Behaviour can be classified into 2 categories namely : observable and measurable behaviour.

• Behavioral psychology focuses on the following aspects of thought, emotion, perception and behaviour.

• This theory claims that behaviour are acquired through conditioning.

• John B. Watson is the founder of behaviorism.

• Watson believed that classical conditioning is crucially important.It describes and accounts for all instances of learning across all species.

• B.F Skinner used rats to experiment and develop his theory. (This has reference to the so-called "Skinner box")

• This theory focuses primarily on positive and negative reinforcement of behaviour

• Positive reinforcement encourages the learner to behave in a required way and will therefore be rewarded.

• Negative reinforcement repels unwanted responses.

• Learners learn by doing, experiencing and engaging in repeated trial and error. Therefore learners will be rewarded if an action is correctly executed.

• This theory is well used by teachers.

• One of the benefits of this theory: This theory allows researchers to investigate behaviour in a scientific and systematic manner.