Behaviourism theory and learning ppt in pdf

Behaviourism

1. Behavioural Views of
Learning
An overview of learning theories from a behavioral perspective

2. Behaviourism
Behaviourism is a school of thought in psychology that focuses on
observable behaviours and the environmental stimuli that influence
them.
According to behaviourism, learning is the process of acquiring new
behaviors or modifying existing behaviors through interactions with the
environment.

3. Learning
..Relatively permanent change in behaviourthat occurs as a result of
experienceor interaction with the environment.
Behaviours are learned through environmental interactions and can
be modified by reinforcement or punishment.
Learning in behaviorismis about the formation of stimulus-response
(S-R) associations that lead to predictable behaviors.

4. Key Behaviorists in the Development of
Learning Theory
John B. Watson (1878–1958)
Known as the father of behaviorism, Watson
emphasized the study of observable behavior
and rejected introspection and mental states in
understanding behavior.
Famous for his work with ‘Little Albert’, where he
demonstrated that emotional responses could
be conditioned.

5. Ivan Pavlov (1849–1936)
A Russian physiologist best known for his research in
classical conditioning.
Pavlov's experiments with dogs showed how a
neutral stimulus (a bell) could be conditioned to
produce a response (salivation) after being paired
with an unconditioned stimulus (food).

6. B.F. Skinner (1904–1990)
A leading figure in the development of operant
conditioning, Skinner's research demonstrated
how behaviors are shaped by reinforcement and
punishment.
Developed the Skinner Box, a controlled
environment to study operant conditioning in
animals.

7. Edward Thorndike (1874–1949)
Developed the Law of Effect, which states that
behaviors followed by satisfying outcomes are more
likely to be repeated, while those followed by
unpleasant outcomes are less likely to occur again.

8. Principles of Learning
1. Behavior is a Response to Stimuli
Learning occurs when an organism responds to a stimulus in
its environment. The behavior is shaped by the nature of the
stimulus and the response it triggers.

9. 2. Reinforcement and Punishment
Reinforcementincreases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated (positive
reinforcement adds something pleasant, negative reinforcement removes
something unpleasant).
Punishmentdecreases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated (positive
punishment adds something unpleasant, negative punishment removes
something desirable).

10. 3. Learning Through Association (Conditioning)
Learning is seen as the establishment of associations between stimuli
and responses.
Classical Conditioning(Pavlov) and Operant Conditioning(Skinner)
are key theories within behaviorism.

11. 4. Focus on Observable Behavior
Behaviorists focus on what can be seen and measured, rather
than the internal cognitive processes or thoughts that lead to
behavior.

12. Educational Implications
1. Learning through Reinforcement
Desired behaviors (like completing homework, answering correctly) can be
encouraged with rewards (praise, marks, stars).
2. Role of Punishment
Undesirable behaviors can be reduced using punishment (scolding, loss of
privileges).
3. Repetition and Practice
Behaviorism emphasizes drill and practice for mastery.

13. 4. Programmed Learning
Learning materials are broken into small steps with immediate feedback.
5. Shaping Behavior
Teachers can shape complex behaviors by rewarding small steps towards the
goal.
6. Classroom Management
Behaviorist strategies like token economy (points, stars, smileys) help maintain
discipline.

14. "Can you recall a time in your life when you began to
react emotionally or behaviorally to something neutral—
like a place, sound, smell, or object—simply because it was
repeatedly experienced alongside something positive or
negative? What does that reveal about how your
environment shaped your learning and responses?"

15. Thank You