Introduction

The Behaviorist School According to B.F Skinner and his colleagues, the behaviorists, learning
of behavior is brought about by a process known as operant conditioning which is the result of
repeated training. Operant means 'voluntary behavior' which is the result of learner's own free-
will and is not forced by any outside person or thing. The learner demonstrates the new behavior
first as a response to a system of reward or punishment, and finally as an automatic response. In
order to prove their theory they conducted an experiment on the rat. Operant condition can be
summarized thus STIMULUS RESPONSE REINFORCEMENT REPETITION In operant
conditioned, reinforcement plays a vital role. There are two kinds of reinforcement: Positive
Reinforcement Positive reinforcement comprises of praises and rewards. It has been shown by
the experiments that positive reinforcement works much better in bringing about good learning.
And other is Negative Reinforcement Rebukes and punishments fall into the negative
reinforcement category.

Skinner eventually applies his theory of learning through operant conditioning to the study of
how humans learn language. Behaviorists believe that learning a language is no different from
learning anything else; it becomes a habit by the stimulus-response-reinforcement-repetition
process. The behaviorists also claim that we learn by imitation and by association

Strengths of behaviorism

 It has successfully applied classical and operant conditioning to its theories. Systematic
desensitization is based on classical conditioning.
 Behaviorism is based upon observable behaviors, so it is easier to quantify and collect
data and information when conducting research. Since research and experiment is a very
powerful tool in providing explanations and clear evidences about a certain
phenomenon.
 Behavior Theory supports the idea that leadership traits can be learned through
development and experience.

Criticism on behaviorism
 Learning depends on the principle of (stimulus-response) for animals ,but the matter is
completely different concerning language learning .
 Ethical issues raised by using animals in experiments. This is because animals cannot
consent to take part and are unable to withdraw.
 No regards are given to the innate capacity of human being in learning and give interest
to what is seen and observed .
 Behaviorism is a one-dimensional approach to understanding human behavior and that
behavioral theories do not account for free will and internal influences such as moods,
thoughts and feelings
 Behaviorism does not account for other types of learning, especially learning that occurs
without the use of reinforcement and punishment.
 Continuity in the process of learning(stimulus-response).
 Reward must be given immediately in the process of learning.

Mentalist theory
Introduction
Mentalist and Language Learning It is another theory in learning. Mentalists believe that
man is born with innate capacity for acquiring language and we only need to start
it.Chomsky was one of the main figures who presented his theory in 1957.He considered
Linguistics part of psychology .He glorifies the role of mind . chomskys main claims is hat
language is universal concerning language acquisition and language use . And foreign
language learning emphasized on the internal factors which are unseen. They think that
each person has an innate capacity for using and learning language. Most of the
principles of Behaviorism like reinforcement, rewards,,repetition,etc are not important
because we can learn with and without these principles and there is no role for the
external facts like environment and social facts in language learning. Even if we know a
great deal about the speaker ,we cannot expect when he will speak or what he will speak
Mentalists think that the correct response or the incorrect one does not mean that
learning is done. They are related to the competence and to the cognitive psychology
Evidence to support the mentalist theory