User:Anna Pherson

When discussing behaviorism and learning it is important to go back to the early roots and identify the key contributors to the theory. John B. Watson was considered the "Founder of Behaviorism" and B.F. Skinner was concerned with the functional relationships between the environment and behavior.

According to behavioral theory "learning occurs when there is a measurable change in the frequency of observable performance". Learning is a process in which the "shaping" of behavior occurs through reinforcing the appropriate responses.

Repetition, drills, practice and immediate feedback upon completion of the correct behavior will strengthen the chances the behavior will occur again. Over time, the behavior will not require continous reinforcement and will be transferable to similar situations.

Behavioral theory and training is a key component of animal training and skill training in humans. Teaching animals to sit for a kibble is very similar to clapping and hugging your child for their first steps or bike ride. Slot machines are based on intermittent reinforcement, which in turn leads gamblers to put more quarters in the machine to be reinforced by the ching ching of winning. As students, we are reinforced by the 100 points or A we receive on the test or paper, or by the removal of the F on the grade card. Anna Pherson Source [1]