In the field of psychology, there are various theoretical currents that have contributed to the understanding of the human mind and behavior. Two of these important currents are behaviorism and constructivism. Both theories have different approaches and theoretical foundations, resulting in significant differences in how they understand and explain human development, learning, and personality formation.
Behaviorism
Behaviorism is a current of psychology that originated at the beginning of the 20th century, mainly thanks to the works of John B. Watson and BF Skinner. This current focuses on the study of observable and measurable behavior, placing emphasis on the cause-effect relationships between external stimuli and behavioral responses. Behaviorism rejects the idea that internal mental processes are relevant objects of study, since it considers that they are not directly observable or measurable.
Fundamental principles of behaviorism
Among the Fundamental principles of behaviorism are:
- Associationism: Behaviorism supports the idea that humans and animals learn to associate stimuli with responses through experience. . For example, a dog can associate the sound of a bell with food and learn to salivate when hearing the bell.
- Reinforcement: Operant conditioning, proposed by Skinner, is based in the use of reinforcements and punishments to modify behavior. Positive reinforcement increases the probability of a behavior, while negative reinforcement also influences the repetition of certain behaviors.
- Extinction: When a behavior stops being reinforced, it tends to disappear. disappear. Extinction is an important process in operant conditioning and allows us to understand how human and animal behavior can be changed and shaped.
Constructivism
On the other hand, constructivism It is a psychological current that highlights the importance of the active construction of knowledge by individuals. This theory considers that the human mind organizes information based on its experiences, beliefs and sociocultural contexts, constructing unique meanings and understandings for each person.
Fundamental principles of constructivism
Some of The fundamental principles of constructivism are the following:
- Active learning: Constructivism promotes an active learning approach, where individuals participate directly in the construction of their knowledge through exploration, experimentation and reflection.
- Construction of knowledge: According to this current, knowledge is not received passively, but is actively constructed through through interaction with the environment and with other people. Each individual interprets reality in a unique way and constructs personal meanings based on their experiences and prior knowledge.
- Contextualization: Constructivism emphasizes the importance of context in the learning process and in the construction of knowledge. Individuals learn best when they can relate new information to their previous experiences and the environment in which they find themselves.
Differences between Behaviorism and Constructivism
Although both Behaviorism and constructivism are important approaches in psychology, they present significant differences in their theoretical bases and in how they understand human development and learning.
Focus of study
Behaviorism focuses on observable and measurable behavior, placing emphasis on cause-effect relationships between external stimuli and behavioral responses. On the other hand, constructivism focuses on the active and personal construction of knowledge, considering that individuals organize information based on their experiences and sociocultural contexts.
Learning process
In behaviorism, learning is understood as a process of association between stimuli and responses, where reinforcement and extinction play a crucial role in modifying behavior. On the other hand, in constructivism, learning is conceived as an active and significant construction of knowledge, where individuals actively participate in the construction of their own understandings.
Importance of mental processes
One of the main differences between behaviorism and constructivism lies in the importance they assign to internal mental processes. While behaviorism rejects the study of mental processes because it considers that they are not directly observable or measurable, constructivism recognizes the importance of cognitive processes in the construction of knowledge and the understanding of reality.
Roles of the teacher and the student
In behaviorism, the teacher plays an active role in the teaching process, providing stimuli, reinforcements, and clear guidelines to influence the student's behavior. On the other hand, in constructivism, the teacher acts as a facilitator of learning, creating stimulating environments that allow students to actively construct their own knowledge based on their experiences and reflections.
Conclusions
In summary, behaviorism and constructivism represent two different approaches in psychology that offer unique perspectives on learning, human development, and personality formation. While behaviorism focuses on observable behavior and cause-effect relationships, constructivism highlights the active and contextualized construction of knowledge by individuals.
It is important to recognize that both theoretical currents have contributed significantly to the field of psychology, allowing a greater understanding of the complexity of the human mind and the learning process. Understanding the differences and similarities between behaviorism and constructivism can enrich psychological and educational practice, offering multiple perspectives to address the challenges and opportunities presented in the study of human behavior.