Two Reflections

Reflections on Behaviorism Learning Theory

Behaviorism is based on the stimulus and response. This learning theory focuses more on a response generated. Besides the stimulus and response, another crucial aspect of this theory is reinforcement (positive or negative) (Andreas Paska, n.d.). A typical example of it is a teacher rewarding or punishing their class. However, its implication can also be noted in homes. My sister has a daughter, she was giving her a potty training when she was 3 years old. My sister first tried to use positive reinforcement, such as she offered her a reward of chocolate and ice cream if she tells her mother when she feels a need to go to a bathroom. The positive reinforcement did not work well and her daughter failed to respond to her stimulus. Every time when she felt a need to go to a bathroom, she failed to inform her mommy as result, she makes her diaper and clothes dirty and stinky. Hence, my sister decided to use another technique a negative reinforcement while giving her a potty training. She threatened her to punish if she does not tell her when she feels a need to go to a bathroom. She threatened her to give a timeout. As a result, my niece always remembered to inform her mother, whenever, she felt a need to go to a bathroom. On the other hand, when her younger son turned 3, she used the same tactic on him, she started with negative reinforcement in case of his son and threaten him to give timeout if he does not tell her mom that he needs to go to a bathroom. As a result, his son never told her that he needs to go to a bathroom. Hence, she decided to apply a positive reinforcement and offered him rewards such as toys and chocolates. This time things worked out and he started informing her mother whenever he needed to go to a bathroom.

Cognitivism Learning Theory Reflection

Cognitivism Learning Theory focuses on the mental activities and defines learning as a semi-permanent change in the mental activities. Unlike behavioral theories, cognitivists do not require an outward exhibition of learning. Rather, their focus is on the internal processes and the changes that take place during the learning process. Relating this to the scenario, the deduction that can be made is that human beings are not just programmed animals that respond to stimuli. They are instead rational beings that require participation in order to learn. This could be used to explain why the dogs respond to the environmental stimuli of a ringing alarm and immediately go to the family room, and wait for a pat.

The 4-year old girl, however, is rational and cannot just respond to this environmental stimulus. There is the need for her to make a rational decision in order to participate. The actions of the girl are definitely a consequence of her thinking process. In other words, the behavior that she expresses is a result of what is going on in her head, according to the cognitivism learning theory. Thinking, memory, knowing and problem solving as examples of mental activities that cannot be learnt using behaviorist principles or psychomotor skills. Rather, they require the use of cognitive skills and do not require an outward exhibition of learning. Through the cognitivism learning theory, the mother can learn how her child receives information, how she processes it and how she retrieves it. This way, she can know how to effectively shape her behavior.

The Social Learning Theory Reflection

The position of the social learning theory is that people learn from one another. This could be through modelling, imitation or observation. Relating this to the scenario, we can say that through observation of the mothers’ attitude, behavior and the outcome of this behavior, the child will begin to learn. Equally important to underscore is the fact that social learning theory postulates that behavior can be explained through a continuous and reciprocal interaction between cognitive, behavioral and environmental influences.

There are however certain conditions that need to be fulfilled in order to achieve effective modelling. The first is attention and the mother should definitely try to increase her child’s attention particularly to the behavior or response that she desires. She needs to channel her daughter’s attention to getting to the car. The second condition is retention. The young girl needs to be reminded of what she should pay attention to. This could be done through motor rehearsal. The next condition is reproduction the child needs to reproduce this behavior consistently

. The final condition that needs to be fulfilled is motivation. The idea of the mother to give her daughter iPad time once she enters the car is a good one. She will be motivated by this reward and this will ultimately shape her behavior. The deduction that can be made as far as social learning theory is concerned is that learning occurs through observation. As much as there is observation of behavior, there also is observation of rewards and punishments.