Behaviorist learning theory The behaviorist learning theory focuses on visible behaviors that can be measured using specific scientific parameters. This theory is founded on the assumption that a learner is unreceptive and can only gain knowledge through interacting with the environment. This theory maintains that behavior results from the interactions between individuals and their environments. Conditioning is an important branch of the behaviorist theory which argues that behaviors are formed through the negative and positive reinforcement of certain patterns. This happens because reinforcement determines whether a behavior is eliminated in the long term or reinforced and, therefore, likely to be repeated. Positive reinforcement involves the application of a stimulus, while negative reinforcement involves the elimination of an incentive that is associated with a certain behavior. There are two types of learning that apply the concepts of behaviorism, namely learning classical conditioning and operant conditioning.                           * Developed by Ivan Pavlov                                                                                                                                                      * Experiment was conducted with dogs                                                                                                                                            * There are conditioned and unconditioned stimuli that result in conditioned and unconditioned responses respectively                                 Classical conditioning    * Prior to conditioning, the unconditioned stimulus results in an unconditioned response                                                                                        * During learning, a natural stimulus becomes associated with a certain response that occurs every time the stimulus is applied                                                 * A conditioned stimulus results in a conditioned response after a period of conditioning/learning                                                                              * After conditioning, both conditioned and unconditioned stimuli are integrated to evoke a conditioned response                                                                 * Developed by B. F. Skinner                                                                                                                                                    * Focuses on the causes of behavior and associated consequences                                                                                                                 * Rewards are used to strengthen behaviors that have positive outcomes                                                                                Operant conditioning      * Behaviors that lack reinforcement weaken over time and disintegrate                                                                                                           * Rewards are given after the desired outcome is observed or attained                                                                                                           * Reinforcers are both negative and positive