What is Behaviorism?
Hello, everyone!
This is our first post, and as you know, we decided to talk a little about Behaviorism and its influence on language learning and teaching.
So, we are going to explain some underlying assumptions regarding methodology and behavioral analysis.
1 - All behavior is learnt from enviroment.
Thus, people have no free will – a person’s enviroment determines their behavior. We learn new behavior through classical operant conditioning. Therefore, when born our mind is a ‘tabula rasa’ (a blank slate).
2 - Psychology should be seen as a science.
Theories need to be supported by empirical data obtained through careful and controlled observation and measurement of behavior.
3 - Behaviorism is primarily concerned with observable behavior, as opposed to internal events like thinking and emotion:
Observable external behavior can be objectively and scientifically measured.
Internal events, such as thinking should be explained through behaviorial terms (or eliminated altogether).
4 - There is little diference between the learning that takes place in humans and that in other animals:
Therefore, research can be carried out on animals as well as humans.
5 - Behavior is the result of stimulus response:
All behavior, no matter how complex, can be reducted to a simple stimulus – response association.
Here we go! This was only some Behaviorism's assumptions, and you feel free to read more about it in www.simplypsychology.org/behaviorism.html.
See you!
RERERENCES
McLeod, S. A. (2013). Behaviorist Approach. Available on <www.simplypsychology.org/behaviorism.html>.
Picture from <https://www.timetoast.com/timelines/behaviorism-from-beginning-to-end>
