behaviorist theories.........

1. Behaviourist Theories
Group 2
Jaspreet Singh Nandre (20)
Pooja Senapati (30)
Surjya Das (55)

2. What is Behaviourism
• Behaviours are acquired as a result of
conditioning
• Behaviour can be researched scientifically
without recourse to inner mental state
• Association or reinforcement – Primary pre
requisites of Behaviourism
• Only overt observable behaviours are studied and
inner state of mind is not taken into account.
• Behaviorism focuses on a new behavioral pattern
being repeated until it becomes automatic.

3. Purpose of Behaviourism
• Behaviors should be observed in a more
objective manner
• To promote desirable behaviors and discourage
undesirable behaviors
• To treat hordes of mental problems present in
adults and children

4. What is Behaviorist Theory
“Behaviorist theories of learning are
scientific and demonstrable
explanations for simple behaviors”
-Lefrancois (1988)

5. Different Behaviorist Theories
• Ivan Pavlov (Classical Conditioning)
• Edward Thorndike
• B.F. Skinner (Operant Conditioning)
• John B. Watson

6. Classical Conditioning -
Pavlov
Unconditioned stimulus  Unconditioned response
(food) (salivation)
Unconditioned stimulus  Unconditioned response
(food) (salivation)
Conditioned Stimulus
(bell)
Conditioned Stimulus  Conditioned response
(bell) (salivation)
Response  Stimulus
(press lever) (reward and food)
TIME
Conditioned response  Conditioned stimulus
(press lever) (reward and food)
Operant Conditioning -
Skinner

7. Pavlov (1849-1936)
• The Russian physiologist is best known for his
work in classical conditioning or stimulus
substitution.
• Pavlov’s most famous experiment involved
food, a dog and a bell.

8. Stimulus and Response Items of
Pavlov's Experiment
• Food Unconditioned Stimulus
• Salivation Unconditioned Response
• Bell Conditioned Stimulus
• Salivation Conditioned Response

9. Other Observations Made by Pavlov
Stimulus Generalization.
Extinction.
 Spontaneous Recovery.
Discrimination.
Higher-Order Conditioning.

10. Thorndike(1874-1949)
 Thorndike believed that a neural bond
would be established between the stimulus
and response when the response was positive.
 His theory, connectionism, stated that
“learning was the formation of a connection
between stimulus and response.”

11. Connectionism
• The “law of effect”:
When a connection between a stimulus and a
response is positively or negatively rewarded it will
be strengthened.

12. • The "law of exercise" :
– The more an S-R(stimulus-response) bond is
practiced the stronger it will become.
– This law had to be updated when Thorndike found
that practice without feedback does not
necessarily enhance performance.