Is all behaviour learned from the environment or are some inherited? In this article we are going to discuss Behaviorism as a learning theory and its application in training. Behaviorism, also known as behavioral psychology, is a learning theory which states that individuals’ behaviours are learned through their interactions with the environment. The learning theory states that inherited factors have zero to little influence on behaviour. Thus, an individual’s behaviour is simply a reaction to environmental stimuli. In behaviorist training environments, the learner is passive. The instructor is tasked with transmitting information to the learners. This approach is quite similar to traditional classroom settings.

The Origin of Behaviorism:

Behaviorism emerged from the research done by Ivan Pavlov in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Pavlov’s Dogs is a popular behaviorism experiment. A group of dogs would hear a bell ring and then they would be given food. After considerable time, when the bell would ring the dogs would begin to salivate, expecting the food before they even saw it. This is exactly what behaviorism argues- that the things we experience and our environment are the key factors in determining how we act.

What is Behaviorism?

The behavioral learning theory is key in understanding how to motivate and help learners. The use of rewards and punishments or in other words, positive or negative reinforcements by trainers must be applied in training to achieve desired outcomes. For example, the use of praises and awards have been found to reinforce the likelihood of a desired action being performed and repeated. On the contrary, the use of punishments can be used to limit the occurrence of an undesired behaviour and direct learners towards the desired behaviour. As trainers, the use of rewards and punishments needs to be done in a repetitive way, to constantly remind learners what kind of behaviour you are looking for. Without positive reinforcement learners will stop doing the desired behaviour because a reward is not connected to it.

How to Apply Behaviorism:

Trainers apply the behaviour theory approach in their training to achieve lasting behaviour change and build new job habits. In order to achieve that trainers must take key elements into account when applying behavioral training strategies in their training.

These are but not limited to:

1. Trainers need to write learning objectives using Bloom’s Taxonomy of observable action words that can be measured. E.g, Identify, List, Apply.
2. Trainers need to have clear ground rules.
3. Trainers can have rewarding and praising strategies during the session to motivate learners.
4. Trainers need to describe to trainees specific actions.
5. Trainers must show trainees how to use those actions.
6. Trainers must make time for trainees to practice.
7. Trainers must support trainees with feedback and encouragement.
8. Trainers must utilize positive reinforcement regularly.
9. Trainers need to have a syllabus of the course or explicitly present what success looks like in case of assignments.

The training content is considered successful if there is observable behavior change in employees after completing the training.

In short, behavior learning theory argues that individuals gain experience and knowledge through their interaction with the environment. It is primarily concerned with observable and measurable aspects of human behavior. In assuming that human behavior is learned, behaviorists believe that all behaviors can be unlearned, and replaced by new behaviors. This approach is significantly used by trainers in their training programs to change employees’ behavior or performance on the job, such as learning how to perform a certain task or performing a task more quickly.