Behaviorist Learning Theory And Modern Educational Concept Of A Comparative Study

At present, China is carrying out comprehensive, modern, basic education reforms centering on Constitution Education. As an important social phenomenon, the development of education has been always closely related to all the aspects of society. Then, psychology, as a science which regards human being as the object of study, should and be able to play a basic and even decisive role in developing education. In China, the scholars also has begun to pay growing attention to the valuable implication of the Western learning theories towards Chinese education, particularly since the foundation of New China. But those studies just make simple descriptions and lack the careful analyses of the inherent developmental logic of the learning theories. Therefore, the effect of psychology on the education significantly lowered the degree which its should get to. The author would probe into the development and evolution of Behaviorist learning theories, which had ever been famous among the Western psychologists, is connected with the implications of China modern education notion, and is able to provide theoretical basis and reasonable advice for the education reforms.As a school, Behaviorist learning theories existed more than half a century in the history of western psychology, then, it provides the important implications not only for the future of psychology but the various areas where its spirit penetrated, especially education. Its historical evolution of three stages was in keeping with the three education reforms of America in twentieth century, and it made the forever contribution. So the author would probe into its implications to China modern education notion through the keeping and the developmental state of China modern education. The paper consists of five parts.Firstly, we would analyze the thinking origin and basic ideas of behaviorist learning theories in each stage along its trace of evolution, and would specify the theoretical bases for the paper. There are many kinds of trends among Behaviorist learningtheories. But they always stick to the direction of Waston made originally, that is, the objective of prediction, control and change of the animals and the human being, they were concerned with the explicit behavior and then, they made much account of the effect of external statements of learning on behavior.Secondly, in the review of tides of American Twentieth century education reforms, we would gain and assess the development and progress of Behaviorist learning theories from another stand. The three stages of Behaviorist learning theories made some contribution to the three reforms of American education in Twentieth century. Especially the notion of Skinner's "Program Teaching" played a significant role in the Second education reform. From these we can view the implications of the American education reforms in Twentieth century will do good to China education reform and development, which show clearly the important status of psychology in the education reforms.Thirdly, the author reflected the notion of Chinese modern education. China had a long cultural tradition of education. This tradition had played a huge role in the development of Chinese society. And there is still some essence of the tradition for Chinese modern education. But we should realize that it seems that people are ignorant of them during the evolution process of Chinese education as the progress of times goes. Through analyzing the existing problems, we can propose some directions for Chinese modern education reforms.The fourth part of the paper is one of the focuses. We would discover the keepings between the evolution of Behaviorist learning theories and the reforms of Chinese basic education by making a comparison between them.The final part is another focus. It analyze the implication of the evolution of Behaviorist learning theories for the notions of Chinese modern basic education reforms on the basis of analyses of the four parts mentioned above.