Action or behavior is
focused in behaviorism theory to comprehend the learning. Learning consists of building
connection between stimuli and reactions. Behaviorism are based on Operant
conditioning and Classical conditioning. There three major thinkers contributing
to the Behaviorism theory; Ivan Pavlov, BF Skinner and John B.Watson.
Ivan Pavlov came up with a
theory based on dog, meat and bell. Besides,
B. F. Skinner (1974) quoted “The process of looking
inside the organism for an explanation of behavior has tended to obscure the
variables which are immediately available for a scientific analysis.
These variables lie outside the organism, in its immediate environment and in
its environmental history. The objection to inner states is not that they do
not exist, but that they are not relevant.” 
Moreover, Watson wrote that “psychology as a behaviorist views
it is a purely objective experimental branch of natural science. Its
theoretical goal is.…prediction and control” (Watson 1913, p. 158). Watson also
wrote of the purpose of psychology as follows: “To predict, given the stimulus,
what reaction will take place; or, given the reaction, state what the situation
or stimulus is that has caused the reaction” (Watson 1930, p. 11, Quoted from
Stanford encyclopedia of Philosophy (2010)).
As the mind of a person can’t
be observed to know he/she has learned thus behaviorism theory focuses on their
actions to understand the learning. It is believed that by rewarding an
individual there can be changes in the behavior of the individual. The purpose
of rewards or reinforcement is to transform a learner’s behavior into the
desired behavior. One of the effective ways of teaching to shape the character
is by discovering the best consequences whether it’s rewarding or punishing. Positive
rewards are likely to be repeated but negative reinforcement like punishment is
not likely to be repeated. In conclusion, feedback plays an important role in
behaviorism.
Further
reading;
Smith,
L., 1986. Behaviorism and Logical
Positivism: A Reassessment of Their Alliance,
Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.
Skinner,
B. F., 1974. About Behaviorism, New York: Vintage
Watson, J., 1913.
“Psychology as a Behaviorist Views It,” Psychological Review, 20: 158–77.
Watson, J.,
1930. Behaviorism, Norton: New York
External Links;
B.F. Skinner - Operant Conditioning and Free Will;
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