Behaviorism is a learning theory that focuses on observable behaviors and how they are influenced by the environment. It emphasizes reinforcement and repetition as key factors in shaping behavior.

---

1. Core Principles of Behaviorism

✔ Learning is a result of stimulus-response associations – Behavior is shaped through interaction with the environment.
✔ Reinforcement strengthens behavior – Positive reinforcement (rewards) increases desired behavior, while negative reinforcement removes an unpleasant stimulus to encourage behavior.
✔ Punishment discourages behavior – Positive punishment (adding an unpleasant consequence) and negative punishment (removing a pleasant stimulus) reduce unwanted behavior.
✔ Repetition and conditioning lead to habit formation – Learning occurs through repeated exposure and reinforcement.

---

2. Key Behaviorist Theories

📌 Classical Conditioning (Ivan Pavlov)

• Learning occurs through association.
• Example: Pavlov’s dog experiment—dogs learned to associate a bell (neutral stimulus) with food (unconditioned stimulus) and started salivating (conditioned response) to the bell alone.

📌 Operant Conditioning (B.F. Skinner)

• Learning is influenced by consequences (reinforcement or punishment).
• Example: Skinner’s box—rats pressed a lever to receive food (positive reinforcement) or to avoid a shock (negative reinforcement).

---

3. Applications of Behaviorism in Education

🟢 Use of Rewards – Praise, stickers, or extra points for good behavior.
🟢 Drills & Repetition – Flashcards, rote memorization, and repeated practice.
🟢 Behavior Management – Classroom rules, consequences for misbehavior, and reward systems.
🟢 Shaping Behavior – Breaking down learning into small steps with reinforcement at each stage.

---

4. Limitations of Behaviorism

🔹 Ignores internal thoughts and emotions.
🔹 May not promote deep understanding—focuses on rote learning.
🔹 Over-reliance on rewards can reduce intrinsic motivation.