Theoretical Framework

Psychology has many theoretical frameworks that help add an extra layer of understanding to behaviors. For example, the Behaviorist perspective focuses on how behaviors are learned from environmental influences (“Encyclopedia of Bioethics”, 2004). With this in mind, this theoretical framework is very relevant to the anti-bullying movement because it shows a way to help possibly prevent the bulling behaviors from forming, as well as how to change those behaviors. According to “Encyclopedia of Bioethics” (2004), behaviors can be learned in a couple ways, such as through operant and classical conditioning. Operant conditioning describes how behaviors are formed through reinforcement, such as punishment or rewards. This can be used to help reinforce behaviors in children. For instance, rewards for god behaviors, such as praise for being friendly, and punishment for bullying, such as detention, can help shape behaviors to help prevent bullying behaviors. Classical conditioning involves the pairing of a stimulus to a response. Fr example, Watson was notorious for his study with baby Albert, who learned to fear rats because the stimulus of the rat was paired with a startling noise, thus creating a fear response when exposed to the rat. This type of learning may teach children early on that they fear being bullied, which in turn might even have them develop bullying behaviors to avoid being bullied. Using this theoretical framework and these forms of learning can help prevent negative behaviors and promote positive ones.

References

Encyclopedia of Bioethics (3rd ed., Vol. 1, pp. 253-258). New York: Macmillan Reference USA. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com.contentproxy.phoenix.edu/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CCX3402500065&sid=summon&v=2.1&u=uphoenix_uopx&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w&asid=28b54d819adbd43e4dcdee014cf815f6