Learning Theories Based on Behavioral Perspectives Essay Example for Free

Learning Theories Based on Behavioral Perspectives Essay Behaviorism is a school of thought in psychology based on the assumption that learning occurs through interactions with the environment (Cherry,2011). Two other assumptions of this theory are that the environment shapes behaviour and that taking internal mental states into consideration is useless in explaining behaviour. Ivan Pavlov, a Russian physiologist discovered the classical conditioning in the 1920s. Classical conditioning focuses on the learning of involuntary emotional or physiological responses. In his laboratory, Pavlov was in a dead end by his experiments to determine how long it took a dog to secrete digestive juices after it had been fed, but the intervals of time kept changing. At first, the dogs salivated in the expected manner while they were being fed. Then the dogs began to salivate as soon as they saw the food. Finally, they salivated as soon as they saw the scientists enter the room. Pavlov decided to make a detour from his original experiments and examine these unexpected interferences in his work. In one of his experiments, Pavlov began by sounding a tuning fork and recording a dog’s response. There was no salivation. At this point, the sound of the tuning fork was a neutral stimulus because it brought forth no salivation. Then Pavlov fed the dog. The response was salivation. The food was an unconditioned stimulus (US) because no prior training or conditioning was establish the natural connection. The salivation was an unconditioned response (UR) because it occurred automatically-no conditioning required. Using the food, the salivation, a tuning fork, Pavlov demonstrated that a dog could be conditioned to salivate after hearing the tuning fork. At the beginning of the experiment, Pavlov sounded the fork and then quickly fed the dog. After he repeated this several times, the dog began to salivate after hearing the sound but before receiving the food. Now the sound has become a conditioned stimulus (CS) which bring forth salivation by itself. The response of salivating after the tone was now a conditions response (CR). In my opinion, this method can be very useful for people to train their pets. These techniques also useful in the treatment of phobias or anxiety problems. Teachers can apply classical conditioning in the class to familiarize students with new environments and help students overcome their anxiety. John B. Watson further extended Pavlov’s work and applied it to human being. In 1921, Watson started the Little Albert experiment. The goal was to condition Albert to become afraid of a white rat by pairing it with a very loud noise (UCS). At first, Albert showed no sign of fear when he was presented with rats, but once the rat was repeatedly paired with the loud noise (UCS),Albert developed a fear of rats. It could be said that the loud noise (UCS) induced fear (UCR). In my opinion, Watson’s theory of classical conditioning can be use to create a phobia. I think that this method can be applied to trigger feelings of fear toward something harmful or dangerous in order to avoid something bad from happening. It can be used in a classroom to teach students what is bad and cannot do. Operant conditioning is a method of learning that occurs through rewards and punishments for behaviour. Through operant conditioning, an association is made between a behaviour and a consequence for that behaviour. Operant conditioning was coined by behaviourist B.P.Skinner. He believed that internal thoughts and motivations could not be used to explain behaviour. Instead, he suggested that we should look only at the external, observable causes of human behaviour. Skinner’s system is based on operant conditioning. One of the key concepts in operant conditioning is reinforcement. Reinforcement is any event that strengthens or increase the behaviour it follows. There are two kinds of reinforcers; positive reinforcers and negative reinforcers. Positive reinforcers are favourable events or outcomes that are presented after the behaviour. Negative reinforcers involve the removal of an unfavourable events or outcomes after the display of a behaviour. In both of these cases of reinfo rcement, the behaviour increases. This operant conditioning work all around us in everyday life. Children completing a task to get a reward from parent or teachers or even employees try hard to finish a project are examples of operant condition. In my point of view, these kind of activities are useful for they give pleasant results and make the individuals work hard when completing something. Some ill-behaviour also can be removed if it brings bad effect to the individual. Thus, operant behaviour will be enhanced and unpleasant stimulus will be removed. In a nutshell, I think all of this learning theories inspired by Pavlov, Watson and Skinner are essential in introducing the first learning theories of education. Scientists are able to produce a variety of new learning theories based on their experiments. They are the pioneers in creating the initial theories of education and a source of reference to those involved in education.

Isolation in a Rose for Emily :: A Rose For Emily, William Faulkner

Isolation dominated the seventy four-year life of Emily Grierson in 'A Rose for Emily' by William Faulkner. Never in this story did she live in harmony with anyone one short time. Even when she died of age at seventy four, people in Jefferson town rushed into her house not because they wanted to say goodbye forever to her but because they wanted to discover her mystic house. Many people agreed that it was the aristocratic status that made Emily?s life isolated. And if Emily weren?t born in the aristocratic Grierson, her life couldn't be alienated far away from the others around her. Having been the only daughter of a noble family, Emily was overprotected by her father who 'had driven away' all the young men wanting to be close to her. As a result of that, when she got to be thirty, she was still alone. It was Mr. Grierson who alienated his daughter from the normal life of a young woman. If she weren't born in the Grierson, if she didn?t have an upper-class father, she could get many relationships with many young men in order to find herself an ideal lover. Then she might have a happy marriage life with nice husband and children In addition, as a lady descended from aristocracy, Emily was educated in how to behave as a noble, which became her huge barrier to people around her. Throughout the story, Emily always 'carried her head high enough', even when she went out with Homer Barron, bought rat poison, or talked to the Board of Alderman. A head carried high showed that Emily was absolutely aware of her status, which kept her from having a person to confide with. Even she never talked to the Negro servant who lived under the same roof with her for years. That was the reason why people only saw him go in and out of the house silently from the beginning to the end of the story. If Emily carried her head a little bit lower and spent time looking at people around her, she could find a reliable listener to help her escape from the isolation. According to people in Jefferson town, the Grierson was really a monument, although this monument was fallen, they considered Emily, the last Grierson, an example to the young people. As a result of that, townspeople, especially 'some of the ladies began to say that it was disgrace to the town and a bad example to the young people?

Composed Upon Westminister Bridge Essay

This poem is all about the poets epiphany-like realisation about London’s beauty while crossing Westminster bridge. He opens the poem with a hyperbole, designed to grab the attention of the reader. He continues this with almost an accusation: â€Å"Dull would he be of soul who could pass by†. This is basically challenging the reader to read on, as he or she would be ‘dull of soul’. In the next line, the word â€Å"now† shows that it is not just this place, but this time that adds to the atmosphere. This is supported where Wordsworth describes the beauty of the morning as a garment that the city wears. This shows that the city is not always this beautiful, but with the morning being ‘worn’ it is. The next two lines show that the beauty is added to both by human creations and by nature, in a serene confluence that astounds Wordsworth. The volta (transition between octave and sestet) is subtle, but the sestet starts with another hyperbolic statement: â€Å"Never did sun more beautifully steep†. In the third line of the sestet, he describes that the atmosphere is making him feel â€Å"a calm so deep†. This is counter-intuitive, as London is a busy, bustling, and hectic place. The fact that it is calm emphasises that it is the time more than the place which creates the feeling. In the fourth line, Wordsworth writes â€Å"the river glideth at his own sweet will†. The word ‘glide’ implies that the river is taking its time- it is in no rush. Also, he uses of the word â€Å"glideth† instead of ‘glide’ because the ‘-th’ sound is softer then the ‘-s’ sound, adding to the mood of calm. The poet ends saying that the city is so unusually calm and quiet, and that at this time all of the energy and madness of city life is not yet there- and he loves it.

The Nervous System ( Cns ) Essay - 2025 Words

The systems inside our body interact with each other in order for us to adapt to the changes inside and outside of our body. The human body is able to adjust and control the different organs, cells, and tissues by contacting the brain with electrical impulses which then goes onto adjust and reply to the signals to maintain the proper function of the body. Similarly, The nervous system arranges and monitors the actions that occur throughout the entire human body. The nervous system consists of the spinal cord and a range of neurons working together. It sends, receives, and processes information from all over our body. The nervous system itself divides into two sections: The Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) and The Central Nervous System (CNS). The Central nervous system includes the nerves of two main organs: the Brain and the Spinal cord. The Central nervous system and the Peripheral nervous system cooperate with each other even though they are two different parts of the nervous system assigned with different jobs. The Peripheral Nervous System sends information to the Central nervous system with the help of neurons known as the relay, motor and sensory neurons which then arranges the information and sends it back to the Peripheral Nervous System which then takes action on the problem. However, TheShow MoreRelatedThe Nervous System ( Cns )2228 Words   |  9 PagesIntroduction The nervous system coordinates voluntary and involuntary actions of animal bodies and is in charge of transmitting signal from one part of the body to another part. It is divided into two main systems, the Central Nervous System (CNS) that contains the brain and the spinal cord, and the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) that includes mostly all nerves connecting the CNS to every part of the body (Martini et al., 2005). The entire nervous system relies on the good functioning of specializedRead MoreThe Nervous System ( Cns )2196 Words   |  9 Pages)The nervous system is a complex system our body uses to make decisions and perform actions. It is made up of cells called neurons and special cells called glial cells (or neuroglia). Neurons produce responses by generating action potentials. Action potentials are formed when graded potentials are summated at the initial segment (integrating center) of a neuron cell body. The action potential then propogates through the axon. The nervous sy stem has two main branches: the Central Nervous System, andRead MoreThe Nervous Systems ( Cns ) And The Peripheral Nervous System1784 Words   |  8 PagesThe nervous system is the part of the human body in charge of coordinating the reception of external stimuli and the response the body gives to them. It is equipped with sense organs called receptors, which are in charge of transforming the stimuli’s energy into nerve impulses [1]. To emit an external response, the nervous system uses effectors that can be either muscles or glands. We can divide the nervous system into two separate systems: the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervousRead MoreThe Central Nervous System Cns802 Words   |  4 Pagesmembrane potential is excited, the arrival of an action potential at the synaptic knob allows the neurotransmitters released into synaptic cleft to trigger an action potential in the postsynaptic neuron (McCance Huether, 2014). The central nervous system CNS is the main control center of the body that receives sensory input, organizes and synthesizes it then provides instructions for motor output to the rest of the body. It constitute of the brain and spinal cord. The brain consist of the cerebrumRead MoreThe Central Nervous System ( Cns ) Development1575 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Central nervous system (CNS) development is complex, as genetic and environmental factors influence rapidly occurring processes throughout prenatal life. During CNS development, phylogenetically primordial regions of the brain develop first, followed by more complex structures. When this procedure is disrupted, teratogenic outcomes are often observed, leading to serious mental or motor dysfunctions if not fetal death (Martin and Dombrowski, 2008). Thus the prenatal CNS is vulnerable to environmentalRead MoreMy Central Nervous System ( Cns )2557 Words   |  11 Pagesmake up the central nervous system (CNS), with the brain coordinating higher-level functions and the spinal cord relaying information from and to the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The CNS is contained within the dorsal cavity, with the brain protected by the skull and the spinal cord protected by the vertebrae. Despite this, injuries to the CNS are a global health problem because of the inability of central neurons to regenerate, unlike peripheral neurons. Injury to the CNS is initiated by mechanicalRead MoreEpilepsy Is A Central Nervous System Disorder ( Cns )1112 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction Epilepsy is a central nervous system disorder(CNS) causing recurrent seizures and can only be defined when there is at least one epileptic seizure.[1][2] John Hughlings Jackson, a notable British neurologist proposed that epilepsy is an occasional, an excessive and a disorderly discharge of nervous tissue. About 65 million people(1% of the human population) in the world have epilepsy and the cases account for 80% in developing countries. [3][4] In this essay, the normal physiologyRead MoreFactors Affecting The Central Nervous System ( Cns )1353 Words   |  6 PagesBackground Among all cancers originating in the central nervous system (CNS), glioma cells have the most malignant properties. Glioma tumors are a type of brain and spine tumor that grow rapidly, and usually cause death within a year. Methods of treating glioma tumors with surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy have been generally unsuccessful (Ellert-Miklaszewska et al. 2003). Thus, the pursuit for a more effective treatment is required for gliomas. This experiment examined two main pathways involvedRead MoreCaffeine Is A Central Nervous System ( Cns ) Stimulant828 Words   |  4 PagesWhat is caffeine? Caffeine is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant, having the effect of temporarily warding off drowsiness and restoring alertness. Beverages containing caffeine, such as coffee, tea, soft drinks and energy drinks enjoy great popularity: caffeine is the world’s most widely consumed psychoactive substance. In North America, 90% of adults consume caffeine daily. [1] Many natural sources of caffeine also contain widely varying mixtures of other xanthine alkaloids, including theRead MoreParkinson s Disease ( Cns ) And The Peripheral Nervous System999 Words   |  4 Pagesareas that produce the neurotransmitter dopamine† (Fischer, 1999). It affects the nervous system, more specifically it affects the nerve cells in your brain that secrete dopamine. Dopamine is a chemical that is responsible for the movement and coordination of the musculoskeletal system. The nervous system is composed of two separate systems: the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The CNS includes the brain and spinal cord while the PNS consists of the nerves that are