Behaviourism
The theory that behaviour is learned rather than genetically programmed. Originated with American psychologist John B. Watson
Behaviourism is a psychological approach that emphasizes the study of observable and quantifiable behavior. Behaviourists believe that all behavior is learned through interactions with the environment. They focus on the outward behavior of an individual rather than the internal mental processes.
Behaviourism can be traced back to the work of Ivan Pavlov and his famous experiment on classical conditioning with dogs. According to this theory, behavior is formed through positive or negative rewards or punishments. For instance, if a child does well in school, they get a reward such as a prize or praise which reinforces the behavior of doing well in school. On the other hand, if a child does something wrong, punishment is used as a way to discourage the negative behavior and reinforce positive behavior.
Behaviourism is most commonly associated with the work of B.F. Skinner, who developed the principles of operant conditioning. Operant conditioning involves reinforcing behavior through positive or negative reinforcement. Positive reinforcement encourages the repetition of a behavior whereas negative reinforcement makes it less likely for a behavior to occur. For example, a child who cleans their room and gets a candy bar may be more likely to clean their room again in the future.
In conclusion, behaviorism emphasizes the study of observable behavior and how behavior is learned through interactions with the environment. It is a useful approach to psychology as it can help in the understanding of how to reinforce positive behaviors and discourage negative behaviors.
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