There are two theories that I want to discuss: Cognitive theory and Behaviorism. Cognitive theory focuses on understanding how thinking processes impact our actions, attitudes, beliefs, and assumptions throughout our lives. J Piaget, a prominent figure in cognitive theory, proposed that thinking develops as individuals mature and face new experiences that challenge their existing beliefs (Griggs 3rd edition, 2013). In my view, we apply the fundamental principles of cognitive theory in various aspects of our lives including family dynamics, friendships, partnerships, and professional relationships. Personally speaking, I believe that without incorporating the core principles of cognitive theory into my life’s endeavors – whether as an individual or partner or student or future nurse – I would not be able to achieve success.
Based on my personal experience, I had to reconsider my previous assumptions about children with special needs. In the culture I grew up in, openly discussing or accepting them was considered taboo. Consequently, during my childhood encounters with these children, I couldn’t comprehend them and they showed no interest in playing with me or my friends. This led me to believe that kids with special needs were unintelligent, useless, and not deserving of my time.
Nevertheless, as I completed high school and pondered over future career options, I realized that I lacked the necessary education for a new job. Unsure which path to pursue, I ultimately decided to enroll in college as a nursing major. Throughout my studies there, I had numerous opportunities to interact with both adults and children who have special needs.
Despite being labeled as “special,” individuals with special needs are not unintelligent or a waste of time. As I got to know them and tried to understand their unique ways of thinking, I realized their intelligence. These individuals possess their own form of intelligence characterized by remarkable imagination and deep appreciation, despite facing diversity and challenges in their lives. Interacting with them taught me to become a better person and develop profound respect for them, challenging stigmas created by our ignorant cultures.
Additionally, I would like to discuss the theory of Behaviorism which focuses on observing human behavior and is commonly referred to as a learning theory explaining how knowledge is acquired. Behaviorism revolves around the concept of habit – once we learn a behavior, we tend to repeat it without conscious deliberation.
The two most famous proponents of behaviorism were John Watson and Ivan Pavlov. Watson believed that scientists should only study observable and measurable behaviors, while Pavlov focused on classical conditioning. In an experiment with a dog, Pavlov demonstrated the importance of repetition and practice in behaviorism. B.F. Skinner, another influential psychologist, advocated for operational conditioning, which states that consequences like punishment or reinforcement influence behavior. Personally, I have applied this theory to my 4th grade students who are curious and often push boundaries. Since physical punishment is prohibited in the learning environment, I have chosen to use reinforcement as a means of shaping their behavior.
I have created a chart in our classroom that lists tasks for my students based on their age, including both what they can and cannot do. Additionally, I have recorded tasks that I believe they are capable of completing. When a task is successfully accomplished, the students receive an “awesome” sticker. By collecting enough stickers, they can choose a gift from a basket of goodies. This approach has been very successful in my classroom over the past 9 years, helping to teach discipline and responsibility to the students as a teacher. They naturally compete with each other and enjoy the “goodie basket”, motivating them to complete all their tasks diligently and ahead of schedule. Misbehavior and tantrums come with consequences such as time-outs, which the students are aware of.
While growing up in a small town in East Africa, I was an incredibly determined girl during my childhood. My goal was to succeed in every task assigned to me, but this often resulted in getting into trouble both at home and school. Whether it was failing to complete homework or behaving badly in class, there were instances when disciplinary actions had to be taken. This particular experience led me to the third concept that significantly impacted my upbringing: Skinner’s theory of applying reinforcement or punishment after a behavior (Griggs 3rd edition, 2013).
Every time I forgot my homework or misbehaved in class, I would see my teacher with a wooden stick in their hands, indicating the punishment that awaited me. This same pattern occurred at home, where my disruptive behavior continued, often resulting in a letter from my teacher who used the wooden stick more frequently than necessary. Despite these experiences of operant conditioning at school, I didn’t learn my lesson and would sometimes come home to find my father reaching for his belt. I would hide for hours, knowing the consequences that awaited me. Skinner’s components of operant conditioning were consistently reinforced whenever I made a mistake. Gradually, I learned that engaging in negative behavior led to negative consequences, while exhibiting good behavior yielded positive results. This realization prompted a rapid change in my behavior as I understood that I would be rewarded as long as I displayed positive conduct.
Throughout my life, I have been fortunate as the youngest and only girl among my two older brothers. One particular memory that stands out is when my mother would prepare our favorite milkshakes and serve them in glasses of equal size. Despite her repeated insistence that all three glasses were identical in size, I always held onto the belief that mine was larger. My brothers frequently complained about how I received preferential treatment and had access to better things. They firmly believed that my mother poured more into my glass, even though she consistently distributed the milkshake equally among all of us. This illustrates an instance of perceptual constancy (Notespacket, Ochman 2013). If asked to choose a theory that resonates with me most, I would select all of them. In my opinion, each theory complements one another and psychologists should utilize key principles from each theory to address problems because every theory possesses its own strengths and weaknesses.
In regard to different psychological theories, I appreciate behaviorism for its emphasis on observable behavior. However, I do have a disagreement with behaviorists’ disregard for thoughts within the mind. On the other hand, cognitive theory, which studies the thinking process and its influence on our assumptions, beliefs, actions, and attitudes, is something I personally favor. Despite its importance, cognitive theory falls short in addressing genetic predisposition. Another significant theory is psychoanalytic theory, which focuses on past experiences, particularly childhood experiences that shape adult personality and behavior. Nevertheless, Freud’s belief that human behavior is primarily motivated by unconscious conflicts of a sexual or aggressive nature is something I disagree with. (Griggs 3rd edition, 2013)
Sociocultural theory emphasizes the impact of culture and social factors on human development. However, it has limitations as it disregards other factors that shape and impact our development throughout life. On the other hand, epigenetic theory focuses on genes and their predisposition, which is crucial as genes always play a role in our development. Nonetheless, this theory overlooks the influence of nurture. Personally, I would integrate concepts from both theories to analyze a problem and ultimately discover a solution.
