Convergence of inputs influences a significant portion of our actions today. “The scent of a particular fragrance, the sound of a particular melody, and the occurrence of a particular day of the year can all evoke different memories, emotions, and associations”. When making these connections, classical conditioning is practiced. Operant conditioning is a form of learning based on rewards and punishments; it is also known as "instrumental conditioning."

“The behavioral management theory, also known as the human relations movement, emphasizes the importance of the human element in the workplace”. According to behavioral theorists, a greater understanding of the factors “that influence employee behavior at work, such as motivation, conflict, expectations, and group dynamics”, would increase productivity (Gaines, 2020). According to the behaviorist theory of learning, all behavior is acquired through conditioned environmental interactions. Therefore, behavior is fundamentally a response to external stimuli. In my line of work, the most significant contributions of behavioral psychology are their practical applications. It has the ability to significantly alter negative behavior and encourage productive, constructive responses.

According to behaviorist theory, students are passive and teachers have complete control over the learning that results from the learning environment they create. However, this eliminates the learner's autonomy to meaningfully participate in their own education. It is assumed that the learner will respond predictably to stimuli generated by the instructor, as they are solely a vessel into which knowledge is poured. Occasionally, I have the impression that this structure precludes us from utilizing our own expertise and skills at work without extensive supervision. According to behaviorism, learning will occur if the appropriate environment and repeated practice with knowledge- and skill-requiring tasks are provided. This was how education was administered for decades. Even though behaviorism is less prevalent in the current educational environment, its application in the classroom is still advantageous from a variety of perspectives (Farmer, 2023). The teacher's role is to impart knowledge to the pupil, and behaviorism can facilitate this in a variety of ways.

Despite the fact that behaviorism has lost a significant amount of credibility in recent years, its central ideas and learning observations are still extensively used today. Numerous learning and working models incorporate the concept of reinforcement schedules, and it remains crucial to comprehend how individuals react and respond to environmental signals and how this may influence their future learning and behavior.

References

Gaines S. O. (2020).  Personality psychology: the basics. Routledge an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group.

Farmer T. A. & Matlin M. W. (2023).  Cognition (11th Revised). John Wiley & Sons.