Have you ever wondered exactly why people do what they do? According to a school of thought known as behaviorism, it all comes down to the patterns of learning we've acquired through associations, ...

A recent conference highlighted the dwindling presence of behavior in psychology, the so-called science of behavior. The theme of last week’s conference, held at Purdue University, was behavior. I ...

My recent article, "Behavior Modification Is Everywhere: Why Education Can’t Afford to Pretend Otherwise," sparked thoughtful, even passionate, comments from readers. These responses highlighted ...

As a doctoral student and professor of psychology, John Watson studied the behavior of animals. He especially was interested in stimulus-response reactions to various situations, such as rats going ...

Classroom management is paramount to effective teaching. It sets the stage for a productive learning environment where students can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. The psychology ...

Operant conditioning, sometimes called instrumental conditioning or Skinnerian conditioning, is a method of learning that uses rewards and punishment to modify behavior. Through operant conditioning, ...

We know not everyone learns and retains information the same way, so what can we do to make sure that everyone benefits from their education? The aim of research in educational psychology is to ...

In Jarek Janio’s Inside Higher Ed opinion column, “Beyond ‘Grit’ and ‘Growth Mindsets,’” Janio argues that, to promote better student learning, college instructors should ignore questions about ...