There is no how we can distinguish between learning and behavior. The disposition you turn to every learning opportunity determines what you get out of it. That is, behavior and training are intertwined. There are times when a learner’s behavior can create barriers to learning and inhibit wellbeing for both the learner and for those around them. As learning, behavior, and wellbeing are inseparable, this article considers matching the learning environment and its design with employee learning needs, interests, and strengths (Inclusive Education, 2018). Without much ado, let’s get down to business.
Behavioral cognitions are specific to time and situations. I mean to say that your behavior to every training session you find yourself in per time differs and defines you. New information that you experience is adapted, merged and integrated into your existing cognitive mindset. This allows you to flexibly adapt to and predict how events in the current environment may be influenced by your actions. Whenever you decide to carry out an action, you accomplish the decision in a timely, environment- and situation-appropriate manner. Put differently: Your cognitive system has to manage the dynamic interplay of flexibility and stability. The former is important as you have to couple responses dynamically to stimuli, dependent on intentions and instructions. This allows you to respond to one and the same stimulus in near-unlimited ways. Stability, by contrast, is crucial for maintaining lasting stimulus-response relationships, allowing you to respond consistently to similar stimuli (Farnsworth, 2017). The new concept you’re learning in a training session is appropriately merged with your former experiences and from that, a new you is birthed.
Anytime we talk about behavior, we should also try to speak of how it is acquired. By doing so, we have subconsciously brought training into the discourse context. You surely have heard of the “nature – nurture” debate – in the past, there has been quite some fighting about whether behavior was solely driven by genetic predispositions (nature) or environmental factors (nurture). Today, it’s no longer a question of either/or. There simply is too much evidence for the impact of nature and nurture alike – behavior is considered to be established by the interplay of both factors.Current theoretical frameworks also emphasize the active role of the agent in acquiring new skills and knowledge. You are able to develop and change yourself through ongoing skill acquisition throughout life, which can have an impact on a neurological level. Think of it as assigning neuro-scientific processes to the phrase “practice makes perfect” (Farnsworth, 2017). Your behavior becomes what you dedicate yourself to over time. Anybody who doesn’t seek to improve his or herself will perpetually remain beneath with the same behavioral traits while those who give themselves to training will be seen in new light at all times.
Furthermore, let me peruse the correlation between behavior and training by explaining the concept of “classical conditioning.” Classical conditioning refers to a learning procedure in which stimulus-response pairings are learned – seeing tasty food typically triggers salivation (yummy!), for example. While food serves as unconditioned stimulus, salivation is the unconditioned response. If encountering food is consistently accompanied by a (previously) neutral stimulus such as ringing a bell, a new stimulus-response pairing is learned.The bell becomes a conditioned stimulus and is potent enough to trigger salivation even in absence of the actual food. The same thing goes for seeing gun and shooting. If you have ever been a victim before, whenever you see gun, without being shot or not, fear descends on you automatically (Farnsworth, 2017).
Another similar one to the above is “operant conditioning.” Operant conditioning, also called instrumental conditioning, denotes a type of learning in which the strength of a behavior is modified by the consequences (reward or punishment), signaled via the preceding stimuli. Imagine informing a group of attendees to your training that the most engaging attendee will be going home with a fantastic prize (and fortunately, you’ve kept your promises in the past), even the one who had made up his or her mind not to utter a word during the training will have a sudden change of mind due to the coveted prize promised. Hence, the strength of their behavior has been modified by the “consequences.”
In both operant and classical conditioning behavior is controlled by environmental stimuli – however, they differ in nature. In operant conditioning, behavior is controlled by stimuli which are present when a behavior is rewarded or punished. Operant conditioning was coined by B.F. Skinner. As a behaviorist, Skinner believed that it was not really necessary to look at internal thoughts and motivations in order to explain behavior. Instead, he suggested to only take external, observable causes of human behavior into consideration. According to Skinner, actions that are followed by desirable outcomes are more likely to be repeated while those followed by undesirable outcomes are less likely to be repeated. In this regard, operant conditioning relies on a fairly simple premise: Behavior that is followed by reinforcement will be strengthened and is more likely to occur again in the future (Farnsworth, 2018).
While behavior is acquired through learning, whether the acting individual decides to execute an action or withhold a certain behavior is dependent on the associated incentives, benefits and risks (“if Peter was penalized for doing this, I certainly won‘t do it!”). The fact is that your behavior towards a given course can also be modified and improved on. There is no reason why you should detest activities that will increase you in terms of knowledge and intellectual repertoire.
Always think before speaking. Spend a whole day monitoring what you say. Is everything that comes out of your mouth something negative? If so, pause before you speak, and think a way to re-frame it in a positive light. This is especially important if you are prone to anger or outbursts. Always give yourself a moment to think and breathe, and this can help stop the outburst. When you train your behavior, it gives you a new endearing dimension.
In conclusion, make a list of what you have learned. Whether in school or work, you are constantly learning. Make a list of key concepts and skills you have learned. The work you are doing is building your expertise and giving you something to be proud of! Take time to congratulate yourself and feel good about your accomplishments (HSB, 2018).
References
Farnsworth, B (2017). Human Behavior: The Complete Pocket Guide. Retrieved from https://imotions.com/blog/human-behavior/
HSB (2018). 8 Ways to Improve your Attitude Towards School and Work. Retrieved from https://www.harrisschool.edu/8-ways-to-improve-your-attitude-toward-school-and-work/#.XBN331xKjIU
Inclusive Education (2018).Behavior and Learning. Retrieved from http://inclusive.tki.org.nz/guides/behaviour-and-learning/
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(C) 2021, Alan Elangovan, All Copy Rights Reserved.