Behavioral Theories

Classical Conditioning

Classical conditioning theorizes that pairing a neutral stimulus with a response will result in a conditioned response. This theory began with the work of Ivan Pavlov (1878-1958), who trained dogs to salivate when they heard a bell because it was associated with food. John Watson (1849-1936) studied with Pavlov and applied his work with animals to the field of child development (see the Research section for an example of a classical conditioning experiment).

Operant Conditioning

Operant conditioning builds upon Watson’s theory by applying his principles to modifying human behaviors with positive or negative consequences. B. F. Skinner (1904-1990) theorized that the environmental stimulus (such a positive reinforcement or negative punishment) that follows a behavior could modify it.

Although the behavioral theories are no longer popular, most parents and teachers still use their basic principles. Whether adults are using formal behavior modification techniques or simply rewarding desired behavior, they are using conditioning.

Social Learning Theory

Based on conditioning but emphasizes the importance of learning through the observation of role models rather than by direct instruction alone. Albert Bandura (b. 1925) conducted research that showed that children’s development and behavior can be influenced by simple imitation. His most famous experiment showed that the level of children’s aggression changed by whether the adults in a film were rewarded or punished for hitting an inflatable doll. Bandura found that children who saw adult models being rewarded for hitting were far more aggressive than those who saw them punished.