Activity 2.2 Behaviorism as a Theory of Learning

Behaviorism assumes that man is born a blank slate and that all behavior is a response to a specified antecedent condition.  Thus man is not autonomous, but rather his behavior can be anticipated and predicted through careful observation of the conditions in his environment.  Reinforcement strengthens behavior and thus, through the use of differential reinforcement, human behavior can be shaped and with successive approximations learning can be directed toward a desired outcome.