Question

Which school of teaching emphasizes learning through reinforcement and conditioning?

• A. Constructivism
• B. Behaviorism
• C. Cognitivism
• D. Humanism

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Behaviorism

Behaviorism focuses on observable behaviors and how they are shaped through reinforcement and conditioning. It views learning as a response to stimuli, where desired behaviors are strengthened through positive reinforcement and undesired behaviors are weakened through punishment or lack of reinforcement. This approach was significantly advanced by theorists like B.F. Skinner, who used operant conditioning to demonstrate how consequences influence voluntary behaviors. Behaviorism dominated educational psychology in the early to mid-20th century, influencing teaching methods such as drills, rote learning, and the use of rewards and punishments in the classroom.