What is

Behavior
???
Behavior simply refers to what individuals do-
their observable actions. Behavior can be verbal
or non-verbal. The use of language is an important
aspect or verbal behavior, involving asking or
answering a question. Nonverbal behaviors are
physical actions. Some nonverbal behaviors serve
a communicative function, such as smiling,
nodding ones head, or raising ones eyebrows in
response to another persons gesture or comment.
Behavior Management by J ohn W. Maag
What is BEHAVIOURISM?
Behaviourism is a worldview that
assumes a learner is essentially passive,
responding to environmental stimuli. The
learner starts off as a clean slate and
behaviour is shaped through positive
reinforcement or negative reinforcement.
Both positive reinforcement and negative
reinforcement increase the probability
that the antecedent behaviour will happen
again. In contrast, punishment (both
positive and negative) decreases the
likelihood that the antecedent behaviour
will happen again.
Positive indicates the application of a
stimulus; Negative indicates the withholding
of a stimulus. Learning is therefore defined as
a change in behaviour in the learner. Lots of
(early) behaviourist work was done with
animals (e.g. Pavlovs dogs) and generalized
to humans. Behaviourism precedes the
cognitivists worldview. It rejects structuralism
and is an extension of Logical Positivism.
http://www.learning-theories.com/behaviorism.html
Behaviourism can perhaps be best
summed up by the famous
psychologist John B. Watson:
Behaviourism, also known as behavioural
psychology, is a theory of learning based upon
the idea that all behaviours are acquired
through conditioning. Conditioning occurs
through interaction with the environment.
Behaviourists believe that our responses to
environmental stimuli shape our behaviours.
Behaviour can be studied in a systematic and
observable manner with no consideration of
internal mental states. It suggests that only
observable behaviours should be studied, since
internal states such as cognitions, emotions,
and moods are too subjective.
http://psychology.about.com/od/behavioralpsychology/f/behaviorism.htm
Basic principles of learning
theory

Our responses and behaviors are learned
We learn to maximize pleasure (reward),
avoid pain (punishment)
Born with certain instinctual responses
Learn through
Association (classical conditioning)
Consequences (operant/instrumental
conditioning)
Observation

Process of Behaviorism



Repetition

Memorization

Controlled drilling

Reinforcement conditioning