Similar in their general concepts, the theories of learning created by B.F. Skinner, A. Bandura and better known as the father of behaviorism, J.B. Watson each differ upon the ideas and processes that take place for human beings to behave in such ways that we do. Behaviorism and classic conditioning were created by J.B. Watson. Both processes exist around the idea that a person's learned emotional response(s) have been engineered or wired internally that way from being conditioned to do so. For classical conditioning to take place a response associated with ones stimulus must come to be connected with other outside stimuli, or neutral stimulus which typically wouldn't cause the response. Skinner's operant conditioning assumes a similar process. However, this theory of learning is attributed to trial and error and conditioned response's are voluntary rather than instinctual or automatic as it is in classical conditioning.
Skinner believed to effectively control someones environment will create the possibility to produce any behavior and a provided stimulus increases the probability that the behavior will be repeated or omitted by using punishment and reinforcements. These are two tools used to modify an other's behavior by encouraging the frequency of desirable behaviors and reducing instances of undesired behaviors. Bandura's social learning theory provides that behavior is learned by observing the behavior of another in an environment. People observe role models and learn new behaviors as a result of copying those observed performances. It is still considered learning theory though neither punishments nor reinforcements exist for imitating the behavior perceived.
The basis of all these theories attempt to understand and explain human behaviors on the studying of observable stimuli and the response(s) exerted due to or literally towards such as an observable stimulus. All three theories share the same concept that a person's emotions, process of thought, and the resulting social behaviors of these thoughts and emotions are acquired or learned; rather than already in them from the moment they were born. Watson and Skinner's learning theories relate with the other because they both explain how emotional responses are learned by stimulus substitution thus causing them both to be directed or controlled by some form of outside or neutral stimuli. Bandura's Social Learning theory involves indirect causes and a more subjective form of action as with the other two theories the process is passive or unrecognized by the subject at the time of conditioning.
The learner acknowledges that each theory is accurate in its own way to explain how behaviors are learned because assertions have been assessed by using the scientific method to test each theory personally and quite frequently throughout their course of life in the past. Nevertheless knowledge of how successful conditioning can be and how influential exerted behaviors in any social situation can become attained are both resources one could only hope are used responsibly for the greater good of humanity.
Ashford, J. B. & Lecroy, C.W. (2010) Human behavior in the social environment: A multidimensional perspective. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning.
Feldman, R.S. (2006) Development across the life span. 4th ed. New Jersey: Pearson Education Inc., p 20-28.
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