The basis of behaviorist theory is that learning is a passive process where learning is defined as “what people do in response to external stimuli” (Elliot, 2007, p.46). Learning is therefore the acquisition of new behaviors. According to Skinner, knowledge does not serve to guide human actions; it is the action itself (Skinner 1976. p152). Behaviorism suggests that to learn, the learner requires active engagement and must be reinforced by instant rewards (Sotto, 2007: 35). The more satisfying the reward for the learner, the more their behavior is reinforced, leading to more complete learning (Skinner 1974 cited in Elliott 2007 p. 48). The idea is that if a child is rewarded for desirable behavior, he or she will be more likely to repeat that behavior. Skinner suggested that educators should primarily focus on positive reinforcements and learner success rather than punishing bad behavior because this weakens the behavior exhibited by the learner (Pritchard, p11). This suggests that a school reward/behavior system is extremely important to a student's development because the way the school views rewards and punishments can affect student behavior and learning. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Behavioral learning breaks tasks down into small, progressive sequences where continuous positive reinforcement is given. The theory suggests that without positive reinforcement, learned responses will be forgotten. The theory is based on continuous repetition and the use of “skill and drill” exercise. It has been suggested that the aim of education is to present the learner with an appropriate set of responses to specific skills (or stimuli) by constantly repeating said behavior which is reinforced by rewards (Skinner 1976), because it s This is the most reliable means of treatment. and retention of information. The problem with this theory is that although learners actively complete tasks, they receive information passively, because the teacher is the transmitter of knowledge to the learner, rather than actively seeking and deciphering information through himself. Farnham-Diggory (1981, p60) criticized the theory for its "lack of understanding" of what each learner's learning actually involves. Pritchard argued that although positive reinforcement is an acceptable way of practicing skills for some learners, for other learners they may not be motivated by rewards or understand the logic behind it ( Pritchard, p. In a behaviorist environment, students are required to do the same activity and work at the same pace as the rest of the class and do not have the opportunity to choose their activities or topics. While this reduces the amount of planning a teacher must do, since they can focus in-depth on one topic, it can also pose problems with differentiation. When planning and delivering lessons, a teacher must ensure that lessons are at the right level of understanding for each student in the class, which can influence teaching and learning as a whole (Kyriacou, p79) . Keep in mind: This is only a sample.Get a personalized paper now from our expert writers.Get a custom essaySome reviewers say that constantly rewarding positive behavior and learning might cause some children to lose interest of their own.35.)