It is a theory of learning based upon the idea that all behaviors are acquired through conditioning. Conditioning occurs through interaction with the environment. According to behaviorism, behavior can be studied in a systematic and observable manner with no consideration of internal mental states [[1]].

  There are two major types of conditioning [[2]]: 

1. Classical conditioning is a technique used in behavioral training in which a naturally occurring stimulus is paired with a response. Next, a previously neutral stimulus is paired with the naturally occurring stimulus. Eventually, the previously neutral stimulus comes to evoke the response without the presence of the naturally occurring stimulus. The two elements are then known as the conditioned stimulus and the conditioned response.
2. Operant conditioning is a method of learning that occurs through rewards and punishments for behavior. Through operant conditioning, an association is made between a behavior and a consequence for that behavior.

  The well known Behaviorists 

1. Edward Thorndike[[3]]:Thorndike's Connectionism theory [[4]]

• The learning theory of Thorndike represents the original S-R framework of behavioral psychology: Learning is the result of associations forming between stimuli and responses. Such associations or "habits" become strengthened or weakened by the nature and frequency of the S-R pairings. The paradigm for S-R theory was trial and error learning in which certain responses come to dominate others due to rewards. The hallmark of connectionism (like all behavioral theory) was that learning could be adequately explained without refering to any unobservable internal states.
• Thorndike's theory consists of three primary laws:

1. Law of effect: responses to a situation which are followed by a rewarding state of affairs will be strengthened and become habitual responses to that situation.
2. Law of readiness: a series of responses can be chained together to satisfy some goal which will result in annoyance if blocked.
3. Law of exercise: connections become strengthened with practice and weakened when practice is discontinued. A corollary of the law of effect was that responses that reduce the likelihood of achieving a rewarding state -such as punishments, failures- will decrease in strength.

• The theory suggests that transfer of learning depends upon the presence of identical elements in the original and new learning situations; i.e., transfer is always specific, never general. In later versions of the theory, the concept of "belongingness" was introduced; connections are more readily established if the person perceives that stimuli or responses go together. Another concept introduced was "polarity" which specifies that connections occur more easily in the direction in which they were originally formed than the opposite. Thorndike also introduced the "spread of effect" idea, i.e., rewards affect not only the connection that produced them but temporally adjacent connections as well.

2. Ivan Pavlov: Classical Conditioning Theory

• Pavlov studied reflexes, automatic behavior that is caused by a stimulus from the environment. Some reflexes, such as blinking your eyes when a puff of air comes in it, or the sucking of a baby when something is put in his/her mouth. This automatic behavior can be manipulated. This is called conditioning. In this conditioning process, a unconditional stimulus is given to a person. This stimulus causes a reflex on its own. When the unconditional stimulus is now given to the person together with a stimulus that does not cause a reflex on its own. Thus, a unconditional stimulus is given together with a conditional stimulus. Because the presence of the unconditional stimulus, the reflex is caused. This process of stimulus-response is repeated for a number of times. After a while, the unconditional stimulus is not offered any more. Only the conditional stimulus is offered. Because of the repeated association of the unconditional and the conditional stimulus, the conditional stimulus will now cause the reflex on its own. Classical conditioning is succeeded
• Classical conditioning is a reflexive or automatic type of learning in which a stimulus acquires the capacity to evoke a response that was originally evoked by another stimulus. The classical experiment is about the salivary conditioning of Pavlov's dog.

  General Assumptions of Behaviorist Theories[[5]]

1. Principles of learning apply equally to different behaviors and to different species of animals. (Equipotentiality)
2. Learning processes can be studied most objectively when the focus of study is on stimuli and responses.
3. Internal cognitive processes are largely excluded from scientific study.
4. Learning involves a behavior change.
5. Organisms are born as blank slates.
6. Learning is largely the result of environmental events.
7. The most useful theories tend to be parsimonious ones.

  General Educational Implications of Behaviorism[[6]]

• Emphasis on behavior : students should be active respondents; people are most likely to learn when they actually have a chance to behave. Also, student learning must be evaluated; only measurable behavior changes can confirm that learning has taken place.
• Drill and practice: repetition of stimulus-response habits strengthens those habits.
• Breaking habits: one way to break a stimulus-response habit is to continue to present the stimulus until the individual is too tired to respond in the habitual way, or the exhaustion method. Also, the stimulus can be presented "faintly" so that the individual "learns" over time not to respond in the habitual manner, or the threshold method. Lastly, the incompatible stimulus method, would replace the habit with another habit, where eventually the individual adopts the "new" behavior in response to the stimulus.
• Rewards: many theorists emphasize the importance of rewards or reinforcement for learning.

  How Behaviorism Impacts Learning [[7]]

This theory is relatively simple to understand because it relies only on observable behavior and describes several universal laws of behavior. Its positive and negative reinforcement techniques can be very effective--both in animals, and in treatments for human disorders such as autism and antisocial behavior. Behaviorism often is used by teachers, who reward or punish student behaviors.

References

(1) What is behaviorsm http://psychology.about.com/od/behavioralpsychology/f/behaviorism.htm

(2) Connectionism http://tip.psychology.org/thorn.html

(3) Psychology http://www.psyonline.nl/hof/en-pavlov.htm

(4) Behaviorwm http://www.funderstanding.com/behaviorism.cfm