Theory Of Behaviorism

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Exploring the Theory of Behaviorism Behaviorism by far is one of the most popular theories of psychology in my opinion. “Behaviorism is a theory of learning based upon the idea that all behaviors are acquired through conditioning, which occurs through interaction with the environment” (About.com Psychology). The background of behaviorism is linked to many scientists. “The essence of behaviorism is the equating of theory with application, understanding with prediction, and the workings of the human mind with social technology” (Mills, 1999). This theory had many psychologists trying to prove the theory through their own research. As many scientists did not have the proper research to show proof that it did work, others built upon the prior foundation that had been started. Each and every one of us has been bribed with some types of behaviorism theory. Behaviorism is a part of everyday life in the classroom and throughout parenting. Behaviorism started back in 400 B.C. with Aristotle. Aristotle believed in association and that objects being associated are similar, opposite, or near one another. But, as Aristotle had no research to back up his knowledge, his idea dies out fast. Then, Behaviorism came into play with Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936), a Russian physiologist who studied the digestive process, interaction salivation, and stomach function of animals to research his beliefs. At the beginning of his study of classical conditioning, Pavlov would ring a bell right before it was time for an experimental dog to eat. After a few feedings the dog would begin to salivate when the bell was rung, before he saw the food this was called conditioned stimulus. Next, Pavlov discovered that the sound of the bell alone would make the dog salivate. In Pavlov study, he found that if the bell was rung and no food appeared the dog would eventually cease to salivate when they heard
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