1. The Behaviourist Theory of Learning

2. John W Gardner (1912 – 2002)
“We think of the mind as a storehouse to be filled when we should be thinking of it as an instrument to be used.”

3. What is the Behaviourist Theory?
Learning is nothing more than the acquisition of new behaviour based on environmental conditions – linking a new behaviour to a stimulus by providing reinforcement after the correct behaviour is produced.

4. The Theorists Pavlov (1849 – 1936) Skinner (1904 – 1990)
Watson (1878 – 1958)

5. Ivan Petrovich Pavlov Russian scientist Nobel prize winner in 1904
Famous for “Pavlov’s dogs”

6. Pavlov’s Dogs

7. Pavlov’s Theory
“Events that previously had no relation to a given reflex could, through experience, trigger a reflex.”
Fredholm, L. (2001). Pavlov’s Dog. < [accessed 29th March 2011]

8. Burrhus Frederic Skinner
American Psychologist
Author
Famous for “Skinner box”

9. Skinner’s Box

10. Skinner’s Theory
“Changes in behaviour are the result of an individual's response to events”
Kearsley, G. (2011), Explorations in Learning & Instruction: The Theory Into Practice Database. < [accessed 29th March 2011]

11. John Broadus Watson American Psychologist
Coined the term "Behaviourism" in 1913
Famous for Little Albert experiments

12. Little Albert

13. Watson’s Theory
“only observable events, and not mental states, are the substance of psychology”
Epstein, R. (1987), John B Watson. < [accessed 29th March 2011]

14. Advantages of Behaviourism
Easily controlled by teacher
Some learners benefit from repetition
Rewards and punishments are clear
Ease of motivation

15. Disadvantages of Behaviourism
Ignores thought processes and emotions
Repetition may become boring
Totally teacher orientated
Little or no input from learners