Behaviourism

Pavlov, Thorndike, Skinner — Classical and Operant Conditioning

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Overview

Behaviourism is a foundational learning theory that dominated psychology and education for much of the 20th century. It focuses exclusively on **observable behaviour** rather than internal mental states, arguing that all learning is the result of interactions between a learner and their environment. For Assam TET, this topic is essential because questions frequently test the distinctions between classical and operant conditioning, the specific contributions of Pavlov, Thorndike and Skinner, and the educational implications of behaviourist principles.

Understanding behaviourism helps teachers design effective classroom strategies—using reinforcement to encourage desired behaviour, understanding how habits form, and recognising why punishment often fails. Expect direct questions on laws of learning, types of reinforcement, and matching theorists to their experiments.

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Key Concepts

• **Behaviourism's core assumption**: Learning is a change in observable behaviour caused by environmental stimuli; internal thoughts and feelings are not studied.

• **Stimulus-Response (S-R) bond**: All behaviourist theories explain learning as the formation of connections between a stimulus (S) and a response (R).

• **Classical conditioning (Pavlov)**: Learning occurs when a neutral stimulus becomes associated with an unconditioned stimulus, eventually triggering the same response.

• **Connectionism (Thorndike)**: Learning is trial-and-error; successful responses are "stamped in" through satisfaction, forming S-R connections.

• **Operant conditioning (Skinner)**: Behaviour is shaped by its consequences—reinforcement increases behaviour, punishment decreases it.

• **Reinforcement vs Punishment**: Reinforcement (positive or negative) strengthens behaviour; punishment weakens it. This distinction is heavily tested.

• **Role of the learner**: In behaviourism, the learner is passive—responding to environmental stimuli rather than actively constructing knowledge.

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Formulas / Key Facts

| Theorist | Experiment | Core Concept | Key Terms | |----------|------------|--------------|-----------| | **Ivan Pavlov** | Dog salivation experiment | Classical conditioning | UCS, UCR, CS, CR, extinction, generalisation | | **E.L. Thorndike** | Cat in puzzle box | Trial-and-error learning | Laws of Readiness, Exercise, Effect | | **B.F. Skinner** | Rat/pigeon in Skinner Box | Operant conditioning | Positive/negative reinforcement, punishment, shaping |