Behaviourism

Overview

Behaviourism is a foundational theory of learning that dominates questions in the Child Development and Pedagogy section of JKTET. It argues that all learning is the result of interactions with the environment—specifically, through stimulus-response associations—and that internal mental states need not be studied because behaviour alone is observable and measurable.

For the exam, you must know three key figures: Ivan Pavlov (classical conditioning), Edward Thorndike (connectionism and laws of learning), and B.F. Skinner (operant conditioning). Questions typically ask you to identify the correct psychologist for a described experiment, distinguish between classical and operant conditioning, or apply a law of learning (like the Law of Effect) to a classroom scenario. Mastering the terminology and being able to match concepts to their originators is essential.

Behaviourism shaped early 20th-century education by emphasising drill, practice, rewards, and punishments. While modern pedagogy has moved toward constructivism, behaviourist techniques remain relevant for habit formation, classroom management, and teaching foundational skills—making this topic both historically important and practically applicable in J&K classrooms.

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Key Concepts

• **Stimulus-Response (S-R) Bond**: Learning is the formation of connections between a stimulus and a response. The learner is viewed as passive, shaped by external forces.