Behaviourist Theory

Ivan Pavlov
1849 1936 Russian scientist best known for his work on classical conditioning A reflex response such as salivating can be conditioned to occur using another stimulus Example: dog salivating at the sound of a bell

Ivan Pavlov

Classical Conditioning
Organism + stimulus Dog + food = = response saliva

Dog + Bell + Food

Dog + Bell

saliva
= saliva

This conditioned response will be extinguished if not reinforced.

John B Watson
1878 1958 American doctor Applied Pavlovs theory to humans

Give me a dozen healthy infants ... and Ill guarantee to take any one at random and train him to become any type of specialist i might select.
Albert and the white rat

J B Watson

B(urrhus) F(rederic) Skinner

1904 1990 American Psychologist Operant conditioning behaviour operates on the environment to produce consequences, certain kinds of which re-inforce behaviour.

B F Skinner

Operant conditionng
The behaviour results in a consequence that can reinforce it Positive reinforcement strengthens the behaviour that produces it Negative reinforcement strengthens the behaviour that reduces it

Operant conditioning contd.

Positive reinforcement the child cries for lollies, receives the lollies and learns that crying results in lollies Negative reinforcement the child cries for lollies, is slapped and learns that the slap is the consequence of crying. The child ceases to cry when she wants something.

Operant conditioning contd.

Reinforcement can be physical rewards and punishments Reinforcement can be emotional praise or criticism

Operant Conditioning
Behaviour = effect on environment
influences behaviour influences behaviour

Effect can be positive = Effect can be negative =

The consequences of behaviour can be both a stimulus and a reinforcement

Albert Bandura
1925 - ? American psychologist Extended Skinners operant conditioning into the social area We are social beings and the strongest reinforcement is from our social environment

Albert Bandura

Social Learning Theory

We are both the producer and product of our environment (not just passive within it) Most of our learning that comes from direct experience can also be acquired through observations of others the power of imitation and observation

Social learning Theory contd.

The stimulus of watching others can have the response of the person choosing to imitate Adults can model desired behaviour to a child Nurturing and love can be the reward that produces the desired behaviour in a child

Social Learning Theory contd.

Learning is not simple imitation. The persons understanding of the situation and what is being modelled can shape their response

People process information over time and are not bound by the immediate situation

Social Learning Theory contd.

Stimulus + persons cognitive process = response

Questions
How do you think Skinner believes children learn? How do you think Bandura believes children learn?

How do you think Piaget believes children learn?