Behaviorism, also known as behavioral psychology, proposes
that the basis and motivation of all human behavior is a result of external factors such
as (operant and classical) conditioning, and not a result of intrinsic motivation,
personality, free will, emotion, or any internal mental influences. Unlike other
learning theories, behaviorism focuses on purely observable and measurable
behavior.
The earliest foundations of behaviorism began
with Russian scientist Ivan Pavlov, famous for his experiments regarding the digestive
reactions of dogs (salivation) when paired with a stimulus (a ringing bell). His
experiments led to the discovery of classical conditioning. Classical conditioning is a
learning method that occurs through the pairings and associations of environmental
stimuli with naturally occurring stimuli.
American
psychologist John B. Watson later became one of the strongest proponents of behaviorism.
B.F. Skinner continued to build upon the behaviorist theory with his concept known as
operant conditioning. Operant conditioning is a means of learning that occurs through
rewards and punishments.
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