Why Behaviourism is criticized as a Learning Theory?

Behavavioural Learning theories/ methods are stimulus response associationist theories and methods in general. This can well be interpreted as learning in terms of the change in behavior of the learner brought about by the association of the response to a series of stimuli. The exponents who supported this theory are;

1)      Edward L.Thorndike (1874-1949)

2)      John B. Watson (1878-1958)

3)      Evan Petrovich Pavlov (1935-1949)

4)      Burhus Frederic Skinner (1904)

The modern educationists and thinkers of socio-cultural learning theory and cognitive learning theory leveled the following criticisms against behavioural learning methods adopting in class rooms.

1)      When we only use behavioral methods in classrooms it only assumes that outcome of learning is change in behavior and it emphasize the effects of external events on the individuals. Eventhough thinking, intentions and other internal mental events can not been seen or studied rigorously and scientifically, they have utmost effect on the learning process. (the ignorance of “mentalisms”) and therefore, internalized reasoning may not be an outcome. For example, a student might act respectful but he/she might not show respect to teachers and parents.

2)      2) In Behavioural learning theories great philosopher Aristotle’s Assumption principles of contiguity is not very realistic in some times. According to Aristotle it is easy to remember and learn when two events are associated and this can be done through repeated pairing. This method may ignore the application of knowledge and may restrict the ability of thinking in the children.

3)      3) Again E.P Pavlov’s classical conditioning prepositions are not very applicable in modern arena. Through process of classical conditioning, humans and animals can be trained to react involuntarily to a stimulus that previously had no effect. Therefore, more chances of students learning bad behaviours from this.

4)      4) Adopting behavioral learning methods in classes also create white coat syndrome. The phrase “white coat syndrome” is used to illustrate the stress, anxiety and tension among learners. It is reported that behavioural learning methods in class rooms sometimes creates sweat palms, trembling of hands etc...

5)      I believe fear, love and hatred towards different subjects are created through conditioning. For instance, a mathematics teacher, with his defective methods of teaching or improper behavior may be disliked by students. If he, (without caring to know the basic reason) always rebukes and punishes the child while assessing his assignments, the child gradually begins to fear his assignments gradually.

The fear of extinction

6)       In reinforcement principles (positive and negative reinforcement and punishments) there is the fear of extinction. In classical conditioning the conditioned response is extinguished (disappears) when the conditioned stimulus appears, but the unconditioned stimulus does not follow (tone, but no food). In operant conditioning, a person or an animal will not persist in certain behavior if the usual reinforces is withheld long enough. The behavior will eventually be extinguished (stop). For example, if u repeatedly-email a professor but never get a reply, you may give up. Similarly if your teacher asks to attend for an evening classes on all Tuesdays a week, but if she repeatedly did not turn up, then even you may not turn up. Removal of reinforcement altogether leads to extinction.

7)       Again antecedents (events proceeding behavior) may lead to unpleasant consequences as positive consequences. Skinner only tested the pecking of pigeon when the light is on. But when the light is off, the experiment was not tested.  For instance, if the child was trained only to use pencils in writing at lower grades and higher grades altogether, then the child will think writing with pen is prohibited even in higher grades. 

8)      In behaviorism, more chance for learners in adapting to a poor environment. For instance, a student adapts to a classroom where other students’ behaviors are negative and destructive to the learning environment.

9)      Another limitation in Behaviorism is Behavior measured may not be a true picture of understanding. For instance, taking a true or false test with the assurance of retaking it until the student gets it right can lead to guessing for the correct answers. 

10)   Last but not least the Behaviorists approach in learning is more conventional and old and restricts the cognitive aspects of learning – the student is not made aware about using his/her thinking and students who learn in this methods lacks reasoning and critical thinking.

To sum up, what Bandura had said supporting social learning theories and observational learning, i.e. we all may know more than what we show is the major criticism in using behavioral learning methods in class rooms?