Behaviorism

Behaviorism holds that the best way to produce, understand and measure learning is by using scientific and objective/observable behaviors as proof that learning has occurred. The seminal work for this was in the late 1800’s with Jean Piaget and Classical Conditioning. Mechanism of Classical Conditioning: the subject/learner has a naturally occurring response to something i.e., a dog salivates when they see food, you can condition the dog to have the same response, salivation, by associating another stimulus. Example, you ring a bell when you present the food, result the dog will begin to salivate when the bell rings, whether or not food is presented.

Thorndike (1905) developed something called Law of cause and effect which said: "responses that produce a satisfying effect in a particular situation become more likely to occur again in that situation, and responses that produce a discomforting effect become less likely to occur again in that situation

Watson in the early 1900’s went reductionist on the whole idea by stating: 'Psychology as the behaviorist views it is a purely objective experimental branch of natural science. Its theoretical goal is the prediction and control of behavior. Introspection forms no essential part of its methods, nor is the scientific value of its data dependent upon the readiness with which they lend themselves to interpretation in terms of consciousness.

Skinner said that was true but a little too simple and introduced Operant Conditioning which says that learning is a function of the reinforcement (positive or negative) that we experience. He was influenced by Thorndike’s Law of Cause and Effect.

Operant Conditioning demonstrated the idea of reinforcement. Reinforcement says basically that behaviors will increase when rewarded and decrease when punished. In addition, he showed that, in a disastrous choice of labels (from a Learning perspective: remembering and understanding a term) that negative reinforcement would also increase behavior. Negative reinforcement is the removal of a negative reinforcer (punishment). If you want someone to remember to do the dishes and actually do them and if you’ve been punishing them by making them donate to the opposition political party. People will “avoid avoiding” doing the dishes for the “negative reinforcement” aka, relief, of not having to donate to “them”.

Behaviorism appears to be most applicable in learning theory when there is a definitive correct or a best answer to a question, or with animals, or if you believe people and animals are the same or if you believe free-will is not a thing. Gene’s note: Behaviorism has a place in the “remember and understand” levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy and I’m not sure about the higher levels, I’ll explore it.

References

McLeod, S. (Updated 2018) Pavlov's Dogs. Retrieved from https://www.simplypsychology.org/pavlov.html

McLeod, S. (Updated 2018) Skinner - Operant Conditioning. Retrieved from https://www.simplypsychology.org/operant-conditioning.html

McLeod, S.(Updated 2017) Behaviorist Approach. Retrieved from https://www.simplypsychology.org/behaviorism.html

Embogama. (2016, August 3) difference Between Classical and Operant Conditioning. Retrieved from http://pediaa.com/difference-between-classical-and-operant-conditioning/

McLeod, S.(Updated 2018) Edward Thorndike: The Law of Effect. Retrieved from https://www.simplypsychology.org/edward-thorndike.html

Author: Kelly, J. (2012 September ) Learning Theories: downloaded from http://thepeakperformancecenter.com/educational-learning/learning/theories/

Graduate Student Instructor, Teaching and Resource Center (Unspecified) Behaviorism. Retrieved from https://gsi.berkeley.edu/gsi-guide-contents/learning-theory-research/behaviorism/

Application of Behaviorism to a Learning Scenario

Learning Scenario

Learning Objective for a Module in a larger course on Emotional Intelligence:

Learning Objective: You will be able to name, in time sequenced order, the first three steps for improving your emotional intelligence:

In this module the correct answer is:

You make a commitment to improving your emotional intelligence
Recognizing when you are experiencing an emotion
Name that emotion

The learning objective is at the Bloom's Taxonomy level: "Remember" the three steps. So there will be one correct answer or conversely questions can be crafted to see if the correct behavior - answering correctly occurs. Therefore, a behavioral approach is appropriate and we can employ it by using - fill in the blank, true-false, multiple choice or drag & drop formats.

Stimulus - response and positive and negative reinforcements

Ask (stimulus) in a classroom setting and give praise for right answers (Positive reinforcement)
Ask in classroom (Stimulus) settings and give a loud horn blast/alarm for wrong answers. (Punishment, sound wise and peer shame based)

On an online test (stimulus) - give a green X for correct answers (response) (positive, reward and ultimately a grade)
On an online test (stimulus) - give a large red X for wrong answer (punishment) and, if you’re a bit sadistic, add a buzzing sound that is painful to hear, in a more extreme form you could have the computer self-destruct with a wrong answer.

Behaviorism Pro's

This is simple memorization and the positive and some of the negative consequences will influence behavior. Desired behavior = correct answer
Positive feedback is clear and timely and if well-constructed can have positive impact without damaging the person’s sense of self…because that is actually a thing!

Behaviorism Con's

It is more difficult (my current thinking) to use behavioral methods for higher level Bloom's level learning objectives, because there are multiple "good answers".
The more intense punishments can impact anxiety levels which then effects the ability to learn. Bonus Con: The whole idea of punishment is disturbing to me and I imagine not useful for constructive, life affirming learning. In the extreme, summary judgment seems to work on those who survive but appears to terminally limit the learning process for the learner who is being punished J