John Watson, Behaviorism
"The rule, or measuring rod, which the behaviorist puts in front of him always is: Can I describe this bit of behavior I see in terms of 'stimulus and response'?”
John Watson's theory of behaviorism asserts that all behavior is predominantly influenced by external stimuli rather than internal mental processes.
Key Terms:
Stimulus: something that provokes a behavioral response
Antecedent: a stimulus that invokes a learned behavior in an organism
Systematic Desensitization: a method of lessening a fear response by slowly introducing the feared stimulus one step at a time (in successive approximations)
Extinction: breaking the link between a conditioned stimulus and response
Reinforcement: anything that makes a behavior more likely to reoccur
Punishment: anything that makes a behavior less likely to reoccur
Stimulus: something that provokes a behavioral response
Antecedent: a stimulus that invokes a learned behavior in an organism
Systematic Desensitization: a method of lessening a fear response by slowly introducing the feared stimulus one step at a time (in successive approximations)
Extinction: breaking the link between a conditioned stimulus and response
Reinforcement: anything that makes a behavior more likely to reoccur
Punishment: anything that makes a behavior less likely to reoccur
How Behaviorism is Used Everyday
This video highlights different types of positive and negative reinforcements that are used in everyday life. This shows excellent examples of operant conditioning and, more specifically how the reinforcements are used to effectively condition the children. It also accurately explains the types of reinforcements and shows how many people use these every day without even realizing it. These concepts are actively used both in the classroom and in many homes as a way to help children to teach children what to do as a parent or as a classroom management technique.
How teachers might use this theory in lesson planning:
- Behavior modification (rewards and consequences)
- Token economies
- Ignoring of undesired behaviors in order to lessen them
- Response cost (removal of a stimulus)
A Brief History of John Watson and Behaviorism
John Watson - Behaviorism
1878 - 1958
John Watson became interested in studying animals and comparative psychology when he was studying at the University of Chicago in the early 20th century. He began studying the relationship between behaviors and the growth of the nervous systems in animals. One of the more famous speeches that Watson gave was entitled "Psychology as the Behaviorist Views It" which was given at Columbia University in 1913. He focused on behavior instead of consciousness and it opened many doors to his new psychological theory. He focused on human actions and studied how to predict them effectively. The Little Albert Experiment is still a very famous experiment that shows how behaviors can be taught by observation and not just explicit instruction. Watson continued to grow his theory by looking at behaviorism and emotions. He studied how emotions effect behaviors and how they determine our actions. His research is still used today and his theory continues to prove effective in psychological and educational settings.
1878 - 1958
John Watson became interested in studying animals and comparative psychology when he was studying at the University of Chicago in the early 20th century. He began studying the relationship between behaviors and the growth of the nervous systems in animals. One of the more famous speeches that Watson gave was entitled "Psychology as the Behaviorist Views It" which was given at Columbia University in 1913. He focused on behavior instead of consciousness and it opened many doors to his new psychological theory. He focused on human actions and studied how to predict them effectively. The Little Albert Experiment is still a very famous experiment that shows how behaviors can be taught by observation and not just explicit instruction. Watson continued to grow his theory by looking at behaviorism and emotions. He studied how emotions effect behaviors and how they determine our actions. His research is still used today and his theory continues to prove effective in psychological and educational settings.
Behaviorism in The Contemporary Classroom
There are many different reinforcers used in today's classrooms that are built upon Watson's theory. For example, teachers who reward good behavior by throwing their class a pizza party after they have been seen acting properly in the hallway 10 times, or those who put a fun sticker on a good grade, or use any other points,objects, or activities to encourage good behavior, are all putting behaviorism to practice.
Similarly, when teachers take away recess to a student who has been acting poorly, or take away any other well-liked freedoms, they are reinforcing positive behavior, which will result in the reduction of negative or unwanted behaviors. Even simple strategies such as saying "I like how Michael is sitting like a proper 1st grader", "Kelly is quietly raising her hand so I will call on her to come to the board" or "this group is right on task and has their voices at a cooperative level, so they can line up first for lunch" are all indirect ways to encourage students to mimic good behavior.
Similarly, when teachers take away recess to a student who has been acting poorly, or take away any other well-liked freedoms, they are reinforcing positive behavior, which will result in the reduction of negative or unwanted behaviors. Even simple strategies such as saying "I like how Michael is sitting like a proper 1st grader", "Kelly is quietly raising her hand so I will call on her to come to the board" or "this group is right on task and has their voices at a cooperative level, so they can line up first for lunch" are all indirect ways to encourage students to mimic good behavior.
Contemporary Research on Behaviorism
Contrary to the contention that behavior analysis is dead or dying, behavior analysts continue to make significant advances in the basic science of behavior. In a study published in 2003, researches claimed behaviorism is just as prominent and useful in schools today as it was years ago.
Further research has found behaviorism to be successful with the instruction of students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Specifically, in 2010 these researchers found that children with ASD were able to develop better social skills through behaviorist methods.
Links to Additional Resources
Additional Information on Behaviorism
http://teachinglearningresources.pbworks.com/w/page/19919540/Behaviorism
Ways to Use Behaviorism in the Classroom
http://www.innovativelearning.com/educational_psychology/behaviorism/behaviorism_activities.html
Additional Behavior Management Links
https://www.teachervision.com/classroom-discipline/resource/5806.html
http://teachinglearningresources.pbworks.com/w/page/19919540/Behaviorism
Ways to Use Behaviorism in the Classroom
http://www.innovativelearning.com/educational_psychology/behaviorism/behaviorism_activities.html
Additional Behavior Management Links
https://www.teachervision.com/classroom-discipline/resource/5806.html
References
Snowman, J. & McCown, R. (2013). Ed psych. Belmont: Wadsworth.
Watson. Emily. (1999). John B. Watson. Muskingum.edu. http://www.muskingum.edu/~psych/psycweb/history/watson.htm
http://theoretical-psychology.blogspot.com/2011/09/mainstream-psychology.html
Watson. Emily. (1999). John B. Watson. Muskingum.edu. http://www.muskingum.edu/~psych/psycweb/history/watson.htm
http://theoretical-psychology.blogspot.com/2011/09/mainstream-psychology.html