BEHAVIOURISM

BEHAVIOURISM

1. Is a theory of learning which states all behaviours are learned throgh interaction with the environment through a process called conditioning.

2. The principal theorist was John B. Watson.

3. Key words: Behaviourism, theories, psycology, cognitivism.

4. Advantages

   • It provides strong arguments for the nurture side of the nature.
   • Useful for modifying behaviours in the real world.
   • Its use of rigorous, experimental methods of research enhances the credibility of science s a scientific discipline.

5. Disadvantages

   • The use of aninals in applying the laws of learning to humans has been criticised as humans are more complex than animals.
   • Does not consider moods, thoughts or feelings.
   • It ignores the mental processes that are involved in learning unlike the cognitive approach who views these processes as impprtant.

6. How does learning occur?

   • Strict behaviourists believed that any person can potentially be trained to perfom any task, regardless of genetic background, personality traits and internal thoughts (within the limits of their physical capabilities). It only requires the right conditioning.
     • Occurs when new behaviours or changes in behaviours are acquired through associations between stimuli and responses.

7. Example situation

   • When a child borns into a family whose speak English and Spanish, the child everyday listens to his family speaking in those languages and he learns by that conditioning.

8. Personal experience on the learning through this theory

   • Zaira´s personal experience
     • I didn´t know the learning was a theory, now I learned how the behaviourism is used in daily life. For example, when I was in middle school the teachers gave us a little reward for improve our skills and having good behaviour.
   • Anabel´s personal experience
     • When I was a child, the way I started reading was thanks to the montessori method, and my mother helped me by giving me reading exercises.