Behaviorism
Watson
What is Behaviorism?
Behaviorism is John B. Watson's learning theory that states that behaviors can be measured, trained, and changed.
All behaviors are are acquired through conditioning, which occurs through interactions in the environment. According to behaviorism, behavior can be examined in a systematic and observable manner with no consideration of internal mental states. Behaviors can be measured and trained by using punishment and reinforcement. These are ways that people will either decrease a non-desired behavior or increase a desired behavior.
Key Terms:
Classical Conditioning: A technique used in behavioral training in which a naturally occurring stimulus is paired with a response.
Operant Conditioning: A method of learning that occurs through reinforcements and punishments for behavior.
Reinforcements: Used in operant conditioning to refer to anything that increases the likelihood that a response will occur
Punishment: Used in operant conditioning to refer to any change that occurs after a behavior that reduces the likelihood that that behavior will occur again in the future.
Example:
In my fieldwork placement (third grade self-contained), I see behaviorism in action all the time. The teacher uses positive reinforcement by using "Lorenz Bucks". This is fake money that the students are able to earn by answering a difficult question, or behaving appropriately, or anything else that the teacher sees as something that deserves reinforcement. At the end of the week, the students may use their "Lorenz Bucks" at the "Lorenz Store".
This is a video of different examples of positive/negative punishment/reinforcement in a daycare setting
How would a teacher use this in planning lessons?
When planning lessons, a teacher must think about each child's learning needs and behaviors. It is important that teachers are ready for everything that might happen during a lesson. That being said, a teacher can use this theory while planning lessons because he or she can think of different reinforcements or punishments that can be used throughout the lesson. For example, if students do not always participate, the teacher can think of a positive reinforcement to get his or her students to participate throughout the lesson plan (for instance, "Lorenz Bucks"). A teacher must also think about the bad behavior that may occur, and create positive and negative punishments so he or she is always prepared for how the students may act, and how to act upon these actions.
History of John B. Watson and Behaviorism
John Broadus Watson was married twice, and had two children in each marriage. He focused most of his study of behaviorism on his children, with whom he did not have good relationships with. He grew up with his father gone most of the time, and he turned to violence and did not do well in school. One teacher turned him around, and he ended up attending the University of Chicago, where he studied comparative psychology and he studied animals. He wrote his dissertation about the relation between behavior in the white rat and the growth of the nervous system. He later became a professor at Johns Hopkins University. In 1913, Watson gave a lecture called "Pschology as the Behaviorist Views It". There were many questions about this subject, and it was very unclear to most, until Watson delivered this lecture. He saw psychology as the study of people's actions with the ability to predict and control those actions; this idea became known as "behaviorism".
How This Theory Is Used In Contemporary Education?
This theory is used in contemporary education, because punishments and reinforcements are used every day. Children, especially children who are at risk or have disabilities, are being observe in how they behave. When children are tested on something for behavior, their behaviors are being tested and trained. I see this theory being used every time I am in a classroom, whether it be for students who need reinforcing or punishing, or for students who are being observed. Teachers and school psychologists are the main proponents, with the children being the subjects.
http://psychology.about.com/od/operantconditioning/f/punishment.htm
http://www.muskingum.edu/~psych/psycweb/history/watson.htm
Behaviorism is John B. Watson's learning theory that states that behaviors can be measured, trained, and changed.
All behaviors are are acquired through conditioning, which occurs through interactions in the environment. According to behaviorism, behavior can be examined in a systematic and observable manner with no consideration of internal mental states. Behaviors can be measured and trained by using punishment and reinforcement. These are ways that people will either decrease a non-desired behavior or increase a desired behavior.
Key Terms:
Classical Conditioning: A technique used in behavioral training in which a naturally occurring stimulus is paired with a response.
Operant Conditioning: A method of learning that occurs through reinforcements and punishments for behavior.
Reinforcements: Used in operant conditioning to refer to anything that increases the likelihood that a response will occur
Punishment: Used in operant conditioning to refer to any change that occurs after a behavior that reduces the likelihood that that behavior will occur again in the future.
Example:
In my fieldwork placement (third grade self-contained), I see behaviorism in action all the time. The teacher uses positive reinforcement by using "Lorenz Bucks". This is fake money that the students are able to earn by answering a difficult question, or behaving appropriately, or anything else that the teacher sees as something that deserves reinforcement. At the end of the week, the students may use their "Lorenz Bucks" at the "Lorenz Store".
This is a video of different examples of positive/negative punishment/reinforcement in a daycare setting
How would a teacher use this in planning lessons?
When planning lessons, a teacher must think about each child's learning needs and behaviors. It is important that teachers are ready for everything that might happen during a lesson. That being said, a teacher can use this theory while planning lessons because he or she can think of different reinforcements or punishments that can be used throughout the lesson. For example, if students do not always participate, the teacher can think of a positive reinforcement to get his or her students to participate throughout the lesson plan (for instance, "Lorenz Bucks"). A teacher must also think about the bad behavior that may occur, and create positive and negative punishments so he or she is always prepared for how the students may act, and how to act upon these actions.
History of John B. Watson and Behaviorism
John Broadus Watson was married twice, and had two children in each marriage. He focused most of his study of behaviorism on his children, with whom he did not have good relationships with. He grew up with his father gone most of the time, and he turned to violence and did not do well in school. One teacher turned him around, and he ended up attending the University of Chicago, where he studied comparative psychology and he studied animals. He wrote his dissertation about the relation between behavior in the white rat and the growth of the nervous system. He later became a professor at Johns Hopkins University. In 1913, Watson gave a lecture called "Pschology as the Behaviorist Views It". There were many questions about this subject, and it was very unclear to most, until Watson delivered this lecture. He saw psychology as the study of people's actions with the ability to predict and control those actions; this idea became known as "behaviorism".
How This Theory Is Used In Contemporary Education?
This theory is used in contemporary education, because punishments and reinforcements are used every day. Children, especially children who are at risk or have disabilities, are being observe in how they behave. When children are tested on something for behavior, their behaviors are being tested and trained. I see this theory being used every time I am in a classroom, whether it be for students who need reinforcing or punishing, or for students who are being observed. Teachers and school psychologists are the main proponents, with the children being the subjects.
http://psychology.about.com/od/operantconditioning/f/punishment.htm
http://www.muskingum.edu/~psych/psycweb/history/watson.htm