Behavioral Learning Theories

Introduction

Behavioral learning theories are popular theories, among behavioral scientists and educators, which state that learning is attainment of new behavior through conditioning and that environmental influence such as reinforcements are responsible for molding one’s behavior. The new behavior is a result of what has been learnt. Hence behaviorism is the use of behavior which can be seen, observed and measured for learning. It gives no relevance to subjective impressions and feelings which are immeasurable. Behaviorism focuses on a new behavioral pattern being repeated until it becomes automatic. According to behavioral theories there are two basic learning paradigms; classical conditioning and operant conditioning.

Classical Conditioning

Classical conditioning was explained by the famous Russian physiologist Pavlov who showed meat to his dog (Unconditional Stimulus). Upon seeing the meat the dog did its natural dog behavior, it salivated (Unconditional Response). Pavlov explained the meat as the unconditional stimulus and salivation as the unconditional response. Pavlov leant that with the meat or right before offering the meat if we ring a bell and if we repeat this often enough, the meat and the bell will get paired to gather in dog’s mind. And after this happens just by ringing bell (conditional stimulus) alone (without meat) is enough to produce salivation. The new thing that has happened is now the dog salivates to the bell (which is a conditional stimulus). Classical conditioning is an old response (something you already knew to do e.g. salivation) to a new stimulus (bell). In classical conditioning the key triggering stimulus (bell) must occur before the response.  Un-pairing of the conditional stimulus and the conditional response is known as extinction. Suppose if we ring the bell again and again without offering meat then over time the connection between meat and bell gets broken, when this occurs the connection between the bell and salivation also gets broken, this phenomenon is known as extinction.

Operant Conditioning

The second kind of learning paradigm is operant conditioning which is also known as instrumental conditioning. This type of conditioning was described by B. F. Skinner. To understand operant conditioning we can consider the popular experiment conducted by Skinner on lab rats. Skinner took a white Norwegian rat and kept in a box.  When stuck in the box the rat then displayed normal rat like behavior of running around, exploring the cage, sticking its nose through the bars, sniffing around and scratching the bars. But it did not have the knowledge or the behavior of moving the little bar at end of the cage with its paws. Skinner learnt that by using reinforcement he could make the rat to move the bar (that will open door allowing the rat to escape). He offered food whenever it touches the little bar, the rat then learnt to press the bar (acquired bar pressing behavior). Food is reinforcement in this case. Reinforcement is what makes operant conditioning operate. Reinforcement is anything that when applied makes response more likely in future. It is a new response (bar pressing) to an old stimulus (food).

Even for humans learning is the attainment of new behavior through conditioning

There are 4 types of reinforces that a teacher could utilize in order to change the behavior of his students; positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, punishment, and extinction.

• Positive reinforcement is when a stimulus is added it caused an increase in behavior of students. For example when we give rewards, stars, compliments or remarks to parents the students will try to keep up the behavior for which they were rewarded.

• Negative reinforcement is when a stimulus is removed it caused an increase in behavior of students. For example when we reduce homework or class tasks for good performance the students will try to keep up the behavior (good performance) for which the undesirable stimuli were removed.

• Punishment is when we add a stimulus that stops the behavior of the students.  For example if we give advice against mischief the students’ behavior with mischief will decrease. Advice here is adding of a stimulus and stopping mischief is stopping of a behavior. (Punishment has quite a different meaning in behaviorism).

• Extinction is when a stimulus is removed that causes the students behavior to stop. For example in a noisy class where the students are talking if the lecturer who is lecturing (stimulus) stops lecturing for a moment (removal of stimulus) then the students stop talking as well (stops the behavior).

Drawbacks of adapting behavioral learning theories:

• Learning is passive.
• Learners are dependent on external rewards.
• Knowledge is a matter of remembering information.
• Behavioral theories support approaches that include teacher centered instruction.  Behavioral theories are best practiced with equal amount of constructivism in an Integrated Learning System.

Advantages of adapting behavioral learning theories:

• Simple, easy, doesn’t require highly skilled teachers
• Effects of using it tools are actually observable
• Practical in all settings
• Can be utilized for experimental purposes
• Learners are focused on clear goals and respond accordingly
• Use of positive reinforcements have long-term positive effects
• Studies have also shown that use of behavioral theories increase the self-confidence of students

Behavioral approaches can effectively facilitate mastery of the contents of subjects/ fields or professions and therefore in some professions where time is a limiting factor, it is inevitably the most preferred approach along with constructivism for teaching and learning.