Behavioral Child Development PDF

**BEHAVIORAL CHILD DEVELOPMENT** *Ivan Pablov, John B. Watson and Burrhus Frederic Skinner* **"Understanding How Environment Shapes Children\'s Behavior"** **Bocalan, Jemina E.** **Gulferic, Shira Mae P.** **BECED 2-2** **Mr. Robie L. Villa** **ECED 23** **INTRODUCTION** Behavioral child de...

**BEHAVIORAL CHILD DEVELOPMENT** *Ivan Pablov, John B. Watson and Burrhus Frederic Skinner* **"Understanding How Environment Shapes Children\'s Behavior"** **Bocalan, Jemina E.** **Gulferic, Shira Mae P.** **BECED 2-2** **Mr. Robie L. Villa** **ECED 23** **INTRODUCTION** Behavioral child development examines how children learn and develop behaviors through interactions with their environment. This branch of psychology focuses primarily on observable behavior, as theorists believe that external factors play a key role in shaping children\'s actions. Theories from Ivan Pavlov, B.F. Skinner, and John B. Watson are essential to understanding how children's behaviors evolve. These theories provide practical applications for educators and parents in guiding child development. **[IVAN PAVLOV'S CLASSICAL CONDITIONING]** **Ivan Pavlov (1849--1936)** Russian physiologist best known for his work on classical conditioning. Trivia: Although he initially studied digestion in animals, his research led to one of the most significant discoveries in psychology. Pavlov's experiments with dogs provided insight into how organisms learn to associate stimuli in their environment, ultimately forming the basis of classical conditioning. **Pavlov's Theory: Classical Conditioning** Classical conditioning is a learning process that occurs when two stimuli are repeatedly paired together, leading to a new learned response. Pavlov's most famous experiment involved dogs, where he observed that dogs would salivate at the sight of food. Over time, he paired the presentation of food with the ringing of a bell. Eventually, the dogs learned to salivate at the sound of the bell alone, even when food was not presented. ** Unconditioned stimulus (UCS):** This naturally triggers a response (e.g., food causing salivation). ** Conditioned stimulus (CS):** A previously neutral stimulus (e.g., the bell) that eventually triggers a response after being associated with the UCS. ** Conditioned response (CR):** The learned response to the conditioned stimulus (e.g., salivation when hearing the bell). **APPLICATION IN CHILD DEVELOPMENT** In children, classical conditioning can explain how they develop certain emotional responses or habits. For example, if a child associates a lullaby with bedtime, hearing the lullaby may naturally make them feel sleepy, even if it's not time to go to bed. Similarly, if a child experiences something positive (like receiving a hug) after hearing kind words, they may associate those words with comfort. **[WATSON'S BEHAVIORISM AND CLASSICAL CONDITIONING IN HUMANS]** **John B. Watson (1878--1958)** An American psychologist "father of behaviorism." He believed that psychology should focus solely on observable behavior rather than internal mental states. Watson built on Pavlov's work in classical conditioning and applied these principles to human behavior. His famous Little Albert experiment demonstrated how emotional responses could be conditioned in humans. **Watson's Theory: Behaviorism and Classical Conditioning in Humans** Watson believed that all human behavior, including emotions, could be conditioned through the environment. In his Little Albert experiment, Watson and his assistant Rosalie Rayner conditioned a young boy to fear a white rat by pairing the appearance of the rat with a loud, frightening noise. Over time, the boy learned to fear the rat, showing how emotional responses like fear can be conditioned through external stimuli. **Key points from Watson's theory includes:** [Environmental determinism:] Watson argued that behavior is determined by the environment, not genetics or internal mental processes. [Learning through association:] Just like Pavlov's dogs learned to associate a bell with food, Watson believed humans could learn emotional responses through association. **Application in Child Development:** Watson's work showed that children's emotions, such as fear, could be shaped by their experiences. This has implications for understanding how children develop phobias or preferences based on their interactions with their environment. It also highlights the importance of positive emotional experiences in shaping a child's emotional development. For instance, a child who has a frightening experience at a doctor\'s office may develop a fear of doctors. On the other hand, consistently positive experiences at school may lead to positive feelings about education.  **[OPERANT CONDITIONING]** **Burrhus Frederic (B.F.) Skinner (1904--1990)** An American psychologist who became one of the leading figures in behavioral psychology. Known for his research on operant conditioning, which focused on how behavior is influenced by the consequences that follow it. He conducted numerous experiments with animals, most notably using the \"Skinner box\" to study how rats and pigeons learned behaviors through reinforcement. **Skinner's Theory: Operant Conditioning** Operant conditioning is a type of learning in which behaviors are shaped by rewards and punishments. Skinner's theory emphasizes that behavior can be increased or decreased based on the consequences that follow it. Skinner identified four key components in this process: **Positive reinforcement:** Adding something desirable to increase a behavior (e.g., giving a child praise or a reward for good behavior). **Negative reinforcement:** Removing something unpleasant to increase a behavior (e.g., no chores for a week if homework is completed on time). **Positive punishment:** Adding an unpleasant consequence to reduce a behavior (e.g., assigning extra chores for misbehavior). **Negative punishment:** Removing something desirable to reduce a behavior (e.g., taking away screen time for breaking a rule). **Application in Child Development** In parenting and education, operant conditioning is used to encourage desirable behaviors and discourage undesirable ones. For instance, a teacher might reward students with stickers for completing assignments, reinforcing the behavior of completing work on time. On the other hand, parents might implement a time-out as a consequence for misbehavior, reducing the likelihood of that behavior in the future.  **[CONCLUSION]** - Behavioral child development theories emphasize the role of the environment in shaping children's behavior. - Ivan Pavlov's classical conditioning highlights how children learn to associate stimuli with specific responses. - B.F. Skinner's operant conditioning demonstrates how behavior can be encouraged or discouraged through rewards and punishments. - John B. Watson's work in behaviorism shows how children's emotions can be conditioned by their environment, influencing their behavior and emotional development. - These theories are essential tools for educators and parents, providing strategies to promote positive behaviors and emotional responses in children. - While behavioral theories focus heavily on observable behavior, they are complemented today by cognitive approaches for a more comprehensive understanding of child development. **References** - Skinner, B.F. (1938). *The Behavior of Organisms: An Experimental Analysis.* https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1939-00056-000 - Pavlov, I.P. (1927). *Conditioned Reflexes.* https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4116985/ - Watson, J.B., & Rayner, R. (1920). *Conditioned Emotional Reactions.*