Behaviorism

Sarah Zach
Dr. Mark Hawkes
EPSY 302
November 16, 2012
Behaviorism
In the classroom, there are all sorts of children and each one has a
different way of learning. In studies done by scientists, such as B.F. Skinner
and Ivan Pavlov, it has been found that a childs environment has the biggest
impact on how a child processes and learns information through stimuli and
reinforcement (Ormrod, 19). Behaviorism is one of the best approaches when
teaching in the classroom.
Behaviorism is a theoretical perspective in which learning and
behavior are described and explained in terms of stimulus-response
relationships (Ormrod, 391). When a student performs a task, depending on
whether he is praised or scolded depends on whether he will do it again. It
has more to do with behavior rather than thinking, feeling and knowing
(Behaviorism).
Behaviorism is used to shape the students behavior by using rewards
and punishments (Behaviorism). There are many examples of this in the
classroom. If Johnny raises his hand and the teacher rewards him with an
approving comment or a prize, then Johnny is more likely to raise his hand
next time he has something to say or has an answer in class because he

gained the approval of the teacher. If Johnny blurts out the answer without
raising his hand and the teacher scolds him or takes something away, such
as recess, he will be less likely to speak out of turn in fear of getting in
trouble again.
B.F. Skinner and Ivan Pavlov found that learning progresses through
conditioning. Through experimentation they developed two main types of
conditioning; Classical and Operant. Classical conditioning is an involuntary
response caused by a stimulus (Learning). An example of classical
conditioning would be blinking. If air is blown into an eye, the body
involuntarily blinks. With classical conditioning there are no new behaviors
learned. Pavlov found classical conditioning through his experiments with
dogs. Pavlov used an unconditioned stimulus, food, to cause an
unconditioned response, drooling. Every time the dog saw the food it started
salivating. He then joined the food with a neutral stimulus, ringing a bell.
Whenever the bell was ringed, food was given to the dogs. After a while, the
dogs gained the response of salivating every time the bell was rang because
it knew the food would be given soon after (Learning).
With this experiment, Pavlov was able to develop behaviorism and
used it to help find the best way of teaching students. There are many ways
classical conditioning has to do with the classroom. If a girl goes to school
and the teacher makes it a bad experience, the girl will no longer want to go
because she generalizes her experience in the classroom with school,

causing a conditioned response towards school (Daniels). This is why

teachers should do their best to use behaviorism to make school a fun,
enjoyable place for the students because if they enjoy it they will want to
come back and be more likely to get good grades. If the student has a bad
experience then he or she is more likely to not want to go causing them to
get bad grades and possibly even drop out of school. Through classical
conditioning, teachers can help to make students want to come to school
and be more likely to want to get good grades.
Another type of conditioning is operant conditioning. Operant
conditioning is a form of learning in which a response increases in frequency
as a result of its being followed by reinforcement (Ormrod 58). It is the
belief that people act how they do because of consequences in the past. B.F.
Skinner conducted an experiment to see if rats would learn through operant
conditioning. First he put a hungry rat into a box with a lever that if pushed a
light would turn on and a pellet of food would be released. After being in the
box, the rat soon realized that when it pressed the lever down, food would
drop down. The food was used to reinforce the action of pushing the lever
causing the hungry rat to want to keep doing it until satisfied (Rubin).
Operant conditioning can be reinforced by two kinds of reinforcements;
positive and negative reinforcement. Positive reinforcement is when a
response increases because a stimulus is presented as a result of the
response (Ormrod 59). This can include parents giving their child money for

every A on their report card or a teacher giving students a fun day if

everyone gets a certain grade on their tests. Teachers may use positive
reinforcement to give students a reason to reach for a goal that might not
seem appealing by rewarding them with something they may want or enjoy
when the goal is reached. Positive reinforcements can also be used to
encourage a behavior, such as if a boy picks up his toys, his mother gives
him candy. This encourages the child to clean up his toys every time they are
out in hopes of getting candy (Sadowski).
The other type of reinforcement is negative reinforcement. Negative
reinforcement is when a response increases because the stimulus is removed
(Ormrod 60). This type of reinforcement can be used both positively and
negatively. If a student has to read a book before the end of the month and
doesnt want to have to worry about it he can finish it early so he doesnt
have to worry about. This is an example of negative reinforcement because
the stimulus, having to read the book, is removed leaving him with more free
time to do other activities.
Negative reinforcement can also have unpleasant consequences for
the student. If a boy throws a ball at another student, the teacher can use
negative reinforcement to punish the boy by taking his ball away. This helps
to teach the student that if he is going to be mean then he cannot play with
the ball, causing him to be nicer when he is playing with it. Negative
reinforcement is a good way to teach students how to behave because they

dont want to lose things that they enjoy using, such as a ball or toy. When
teachers use reinforcements, the students notice that if they use behavior
that is acceptable then they can receive they want or not have to do
something that they do not find enjoyable, making them want to repeat that
action.
Behaviorism is the best theory because when you think about children
in school, they do what other children to so they fit in. It ranges from what
they wear to how they act; children just want to fit in. Behaviorism explains
this very well. If students are in an environment where all of them are well
behaved and they get good grades, the child will want to fit in and will try his
or her best to fit in with all the other students. Also, if students are rewarded
for being good and getting good grades then they are more likely to want to
do well and will try their hardest.
In the classroom, I will find ways to use the behaviorism learning
theory to encourage my students to get their work done to the best of their
ability. I can use positive reinforcement to encourage my students to reach
their highest potential by praising them when they are correct or use
appropriate behavior. Negative reinforcement will also be used by giving
students things, such as free passes on homework when they get so many
questions right or reach a goal to earn it, to encourage them to keep working
hard and doing their best. I will also use negative reinforcement as a
disciplinary measure to keep the students from acting out. If students dont

do their homework they can lose their one of their recesses in order to get
their work done. That way the students will get the work done before coming
to school so they dont lose that privilege. In using these reinforcements, the
student will be in an environment where all the students do their homework
and are on their best behavior making the child want to be more like the
others.
Behaviorism is one of the biggest learning theories that helps to
explain how students learn and what the best strategies are for helping the
students learn and perform to their fullest potential. The research I have
done helped me to find reinforcements that are effective that I can use in my
classroom. In using these methods, I can help students to do their best and
learn effectively.

Works Cited
"Behaviorism Theory Overview." Behaviorism Theory Overview. N.p., n.d.
Web. 15 Nov. 2012.
Daniels, Robin. "Classical Conditioning: A Case Study." Socyberty RSS. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2012.
Ormrod, Jeanne Ellis. Essentials of Educational Psychology. Upper Saddle
River, NJ: Pearson Merrill Prentice Hall, 2006. Print.
Rubin, Julian. "From Pavlov to Skinner Box." From Pavlov to Skinner Box. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2012.
Sadowski, Kate. "The Difference Between Positive and Negative
Reinforcement." North Shore Pediatric Therapy The Difference Between
Positive and Negative Reinforcement Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov.
2012.