What Is Behaviorism?

Behavioralism, is known as behavioral psychology. It a theory of learning based on the idea that all behaviors are acquired through conditioning, and conditioning occurs through interaction with the environment. Behaviorists believe that our actions are shaped by environment stimuli.

According to this school of thought, behavior can be studied in a systematic and observable manner regardless of internal mental states. Behavioral theory also says that only observable behavior should be considered as cognition, emotions,and mood are far to subjective.

Strict behaviorists believe that any person can be trained to perform any task, regardless of genetic background, personality traits, and internships thoughts- within the limits of the physical capabilities. It only requires the right conditioning.

Behavioralism was formerly established with the 1913 publication of John B. Watson’s classic papers, “ Psychology as the Behavioralists views it.’ It is best summed up by the following quote from Watson, who is considered the father of behaviorism:

Give me a dozen healthy infants, well- formed, and my own specified world to bring them up in and I’ll guaranteed take any one at random and train him become any type of specialist I might select – doctor, lawyer, artist, merchant, chief, and yes, even bigger-man and thief, regardless of his talents, penchants, tendencies, abilities, vocations, and race of his ancestors.””

John B. Watson

Simply put, strict behaviorists believe that all behaviors are the result of experiencing. Any person, regardless of his or her background, can be trained to act I. A particular manner given the right conditioning.

From about 1929 -1950, behavioralism grew to become the dominant school of thought in psychology. Some suggest that the popularity of behavioral psychology grew out of the desire to establish psychology as an objective and measurable science.

During this time, researchers were interested in creating theories that could be clearly described and empirically measured but also used to make contributions that might have an influence on the fabric of everyday human lives.

Types Of Behaviorism

There are two main types of behaviorism used to describe how behavior is formed.

Methodological Behaviorism

Methodological Behaviorism states that observable behavior should be studied scientifically and that mental states and cognitive processes don’t add to the understanding of behavior. Methodological behaviorism aligns with Watson’s ideologies and approach.

Radical Behaviorism

Radical Behaviorism is rooted in the theory that behavior can be understood by environment and the reinforcements within it, thereby influencing behavior either positively or negatively. This behavioral approach was created by the psychologist B. F. Skinner.

Classical Conditioning

Classical Conditioning is a technique frequently used in behavioral training in which a neutral stimulus is paired with a naturally occurring stimulus. Eventually the neutral stimulus comes to evoke the same response as the naturally occurring stimulus, even without the naturally occurring stimulus presenting itself.

Throughout the course of three distinct phases of classical conditioning, associated stimulus becomes known as the conditioned stimulus and the learned behavior is known as conditioned response.

Learning Through Association

The classical conditioning process works by developing as association between an environmental stimulus and a naturally occurring stimulus .

In physiologist Ivan Pavlov’s classic example, dogs associated the presentation of food (something that naturally and automatically triggers a salivation response) at first with the sound of a bell, then with the sight of a lab assistant’s white coat. Eventually, the lab coat elicited a salivation response from the dogs.

Factors That Impact Conditioning

During the first part of the classical conditioning process, known as acquisition, a response is established and strengthened. Factors such as the prominence of the stimuli and the timing of the presentation can play an important role in how quickly an association is formed.

When an association disappears, this is known as extinction and causes the behavior to weaken gradually or vanish. Factors such as the strength of the original response can play a role in how quickly extinction occurs. The longer a response has been conditioned, for example, the longer it may take for it to become extinct.

Operant Conditioning

Operant conditioning, sometime referred to instructional conditioning, is a method of learning that occurs through reinforcement and punishment. Through operant conditioning, an association is made between a behavior and a consequence for that behavior.

This behavioral approach says that when a desirable result follows an action, the behavior becomes more likely to happen again in the future. Conversely, responses followed by adverse outcomes become less likely to occur,

For example Is a child was punished every time they spoke, that child would learn to not talk. And would in turn have poor communication skills.

This behavioral approach says that when a desirable result follows an action, the behavior becomes more likely to happen again in the future. Conversely, responses by adverse outcomes become less likely to occur.

Consequences Affect Learning

Behavioralism B.F. Skinner described operant conditioning as the process in which learning can occur through reinforcement and punishment. More specifically, by forming an association between a certain behavior and that behavior, you learn.

Timing Plays A Role

The process of operant conditioning seems fairly straightforward- simply observe a behavior, then offer a reward or punishment. However, Skinner discovered that the timing of these rewards and punishments had an important influence on how quickly a new behavior is acquired and the strength of the corresponding response.

This makes reinforcement schedules important in operant conditioning and can involve either continuous or partial reinforcement.

  • Continuous reinforcement involves rewarding every single instance of a behavior, it is often utilized at the beginning of the operant conditioning process. Then, as the behavior is learned, the schedule might switch ti one of partial reinforcement.
  • Partial reinforcement involves offering a reward after a number of responses or after a period of time has elapsed. Sometimes, partial reinforcement occurs on a consistent or fixed schedule. In other instances, a variable and an unpredictable number of responses or amount of time must occur before the reinforcement is delivered,

Uses Of Behaviorism

The behaviorist perspective has a few different uses, a couple of which are related to education and mental health.

Grace For The Small Things

As Christians, thinking about God’s grace for the “big things” like salvation isn’t hard for us to accept at all. But somehow, that doesn’t always bring us the peace we need to conquer the small things of everyday life. Despite loving Jesus, we continue to be worried and overwhelmed.

It’s Interesting that the New Testament writers often paired the word grace with peace. In many of his letters Apostle Paul says, “Grace to you and peace from God.” And the Apostle Peter, and the beginning of his second letter greets the believers with these words. “Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord” (verse 2).

These opening salutations are not customary greeting written before getting to the “good stuff.” Why does Paul always couple grace and peace? The earliest Jesus followers knew that grace doesn’t stop at God’s gift to us, but instead, that’s where grace begins. God extended His grace to the whole world when He sent Jesus to reconcile us back to Himself. This is the essence of our salvation; it’s the big picture that sustains us and keeps us hopeful.

However, the joy and peace we feel from our salvation only trickles down into other areas of ur life when we embody His grace and peace together. It was God’s grace that brought peace between Him and humankind. And it’s our grace to ourselves and others that puts peace between us and the difficulties we face.

Yes, there will be more tough days ahead, but when we can give ourselves and others grace,we will all be better for it. Other will see an example of how to love others, and we will draw closer to God, even when our flesh want to do otherwise.

Acknowledging God’s grace in the big things, Luke our salvation, is just as important as acknowledging it in the small things. And those are the times when we experience the fullness of His peace that’s available to us all, through the grace we have received.

2: Peter 1:1-4

Are You On The Road To Heaven?

In 2020 a survey was completed by Life-way Research that reported 85% of Americans believe there is something more to life than this present world. That means only 1 out of 170 peoples think that when they die the will cease to exist. Our life experiences have taught us this principle of cause and effect. We understand that something does not come from nothing.

So, when people think about the universe they realize the universe didn’t just pop into existence from some subatomic particles that cannot be explained. The truth is intelligent people understand that there is something we don’t understand. There is something beyond us.

Most of us believe there is more to life than the present world. That is why Life-way Research reported the 85% of Americans agree that belief. In another poll by Roper Center reported that 80% believe in heaven and 67% believe in hell. They also reported that 84% believe their going to heaven when they die. The survey even reported that majority of atheists believe there is something beyond this present world and 80% believe in heaven.

The Wide Gate And The Narrow Gate

Now I want to ask you a question, “ Do you also think you are going to heaven?” Most people think they are going to heaven, including everyone who thinks they are a Christian. But the sad truth is that Jesus said that is not true. Do you remember Jesus’s teaching in the Sermon on the Mount about a wide road and a narrow road? This illustration can be found in Matthew 7:13-14. There Jesus said,

Enter through the narrow gate: for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Matthew 7:13-14

In this illustration, the gates are adjusted to size of the roads. The second gate is wide and so is the road. That road leads to destruction. The Greek word for “destruction” can be translated as “ruin or wasted.” People on that road will be ruined. It refers to hell. The first gate is narrow and small. The Greek word for narrow is different in verse 14. It is thilbo. It refers to a compressed way or difficult path. T is like a road with high cliffs on each side. Jesus’s message is that this road is difficult to travel. Yet, it is the only one that leads to life- eternal life. Now Jesus did not use this word just to make illustration interesting. He wants us to know what life is like for anyone who travels this road. Then He added there are few who find it. So, are you on the road to heaven? Or are you traveling this road? There are several reasons who people think they are on the road to eternal life.

Seeking Jesus With Wrong Motives

The one reason some people think they are on the road to heaven is that they believe in Jesus, but they came to Jesus with wrong motives. For example, If someone says they have come to Jesus and became a Christian because it would make them wealthy many who say this are unhappy with God because money was not flowing into their bank account. Other people have claimed to become Christians believing that God would fix their marriage, finances, sickness, give them mental peace, or help them have a joyful life. Some people have been deceived into thinking God would bless then in some other way if they just become a Christian. So, who would be vain as to reject that type of offer? Sadly, they have missed John 6:26-27 which tells us,

Jesus answered them and said “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of loaves and were filled. Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endured to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.

John 6:26-27

This passage tells us that Jesus was speaking to a group of people who had seen Jesus’s miracle of the feeding the five thousand. After the miracle Jesus escaped from their presence and later these people found Him. In this passage we are told they were seeking Jesus in order to have their personal wants satisfied. Notice that Jesus rebuked them for only one reason. They were seeking Him with the wrong motives. There are wrong reasons to seek Jesus.

The reason such pate not on the road to heaven is that their faith in Jesus is not real. In 1 Corinthians 15:2 the Apostle Paul warned the people attending the church in the ancient city of Corinth that they might have vain faith. Here is Paul’s warning,

…by which also you are saved, if you half fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.

1 Corinthians 15:2

When Paul said they might have vain faith, he meant their faith did not save them. That is, you can have faith in Christ, but it may not save you. The verses that follow suggest that those with vain faith did not fully understand the facts of the gospel- why Christ died and was resurrected,

One example of vain faith is found in Acts 8:13 tells us about a man names Simon Magus. We are told he believed in Christ and was baptized. But in verse 20 Peter said to Simon was going to perish. Peter’s comment reveals Simon Magus did not have faith. His faith was not real. He wanted to use the power of the Holy Spirit like some magic trick. He had the wrong motivation for professing faith in Christ. Sadly, many people profess to be a Christian for the wrong reason.

Seeking Jesus With Correct Motives

So what is the correct reason to become a Christian? The correct reason is to have your sins forgiven. In the next two verses Paul explained the essence of true faith. He said,

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

1 Corinthians 15:3-4

Paul’s message is that truth faith believes Christ was also resurrected and responds by wanting one’s sins to be forgiven.That is the correct motivation. These people are the one’s who are on the narrow road to eternal life.

Why Do People Hate?

Have you ever heard the cliche, “no bond is stringer that two people who hate the same person. It turns out that there is actually some truth to that. Despite having people being a socially unacceptable act, it seems that people thrive on hating people, things, opinions, skin color and anything else that can be thought about.

Research has shown that people form stronger bonds when they are able to talk about dislike toward someone else than when they both have positive feelings toward someone. The question is, why does an action as disrespectful as spewing negativity about other people increase hatful individual quantity and quality of connections?

The Fiery Emotions That Fuel Hatred

If you are a generally positive forgiving person, the concept of hating others, much less someone an you hardly know, is a foreign concept to you. I personally cannot understand why people say hateful, cruel, judgmental thing about anyone let alone people you barely know. How does anyone have a hate relationship with anyone based on a group of people based on a name.

It seems that hate emotions are common feelings that psychologically brings out the worst behaviors in some individuals and prompt them to say negative statements about another person or group.

Here are four primary reasons why people hate others:

People want a scapegoat

When you are struggling, whether it’s problems at work, low self-esteem, conflicts in relationships, it feel much better to funnel your negative energy into blaming someone else than to confront your own role in your problems. A lot of people hate groups while being supported by a group of people who share their beliefs and make them feel like they belong.

They’re lonely and seeking connections, even hatful ones

Many other people join hate groups because it fills their need for friendship and belonging. You don’t need to do or be anything special, all you have to do is hate and be negative towards other people. If feels easy, and people find it easier to make connections by putting others down or hurting people.

They Fear The Unknown

When someone note enters a group particularly if they are. A position of influence, many people immediately begin gossiping negative things about a person or group because they fear dynamics. Sharing hatred toward a person is away for the existing group to strengthen their bonds in the defensive against the outsider.

Their Insecurities get the best of them

Hatred surfaces when people are highly insecure. Often, they’ll compare them self’s to other people and when they come to the conclusion that the other person may be better than them or possess traits they don’t want to acknowledge they speak out against that person to project their anxiety onto them.

Understanding the Bonding Power off Hatred

Expressing hate for other people it’s controversial. We’re taught from a young age that you should only say nice things about other people, so when someone says something negative, it catches other people’s attention and draws them in. If people share negative opinions, it open the ability for people to form connections in three ways.

Hated defines social lines

Humans desire structure and certainty in their social lives. To establish that people naturally divide into groups (social circles where everyone feels like they belong with one another) and out groups (people who exist outside of social circles and are not typically welcomed). When people declare their dislike for others, it helps people understand boundaries between social circles. This is a powerful motivator for people to form because it satisfies their need to feel connected to others.

Mutual hate evoked stronger response than love (like)

In one study, people were shown a video of two people having a conversation in which the man is politely hitting on a woman. After being asked if they liked or dislikes the man, they were told they were going to meet people who shared their opinion of them and asked how likely they were going to get along with the person they meet. People who had a negative opinion of the man were far more likely to say they would get along with someone who shared their negative opinion than those who had a positive opinion.

Sharing hatred can be an expression of vulnerability

Research shows that to form lasting intimate bonds with people, you have to be. Vulnerable with them – that is you have to share your authentic unfiltered feelings. Instead of being negative toward another person because of the internal struggles described above, you may share that you hate someone for a valid, personal reason such as they hurt you or hurt someone or something you cared about. This instance is a moment of vulnerability because you are sharing a difficult experience which can lead to hate the other person on your behalf and bond with you.

Bonds of Hatred Come at a Cost

Though there are some bonding bento spewing negativity about other people, don’t try and use this tactic to make friends because it’s risks far out any good that comes from it. Beware of these potential consequences of speaking poorly about others.

To know if someone else dislikes the same person or group as you, one has to make the first move and say something negative. This can come at a serious cost of your reputation of people around you if they don’t agree with your negative opinions. Researchers discovered that when we hear someone talking about other people, we impose the content of what’s said onto the speaker. It’s a phenomenon called trait transference and to understand how it works, pretend you and I have met at a conference and are having a conversation like this:

You: What did you think of that last speaker?

Me: Ugh, I thought he was boring and dry, I had trouble keeping myself awake.

This can go one of two ways: If you also thought the speaker was boring,we would bond over our shared dislike of him. But, if you thought the speaker was interesting or deserved a decent review, you would hear my opinion and think that I am boring and dry because your brain would project my statements onto me. It might not be instantaneous or something you’re fully conscious of, but how you feel about me would decrease in response toward my negativity toward another person,

The Bottom Line

Given the risks, unless your hatred is founded in a socially acceptable ideological belief, comes from a personal experience of being hurt or could be otherwise justified by most people, it is best to keep it to yourself.

There is so much hatred in the world today, we have to ask ourselves what is the root cause of it. Is it someone else’s opinion? Is it the Media? It is something you experienced for yourself.

I try really hard to respect everyone opinion based on the root cause of the hatred. As you know I have been personally hurt in the past. And I spend many years as a hater of many things.

My advise is before you choose to hate someone, find out why they are that way. What is the truth. Do I hate them because someone else hates them or I heard they were a terrible person. Remember everyone has a story, every one has a heart that either loves it hates, everyone is capable of being hurt. And everyone bleeds the same color.

Hate no one, no matter how much they’ve wronged you. Live humbly, no matter how wealthy you become. Think positively, no matter how hard life is. Give much even if you’ve been given little. Forgive all, especially yourself. And never stop praying for the best for everyone.

Even if you choose to hate them.

There Was No Other Way!

Matthew 26 says so, Matthew 39 says He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me/ nevertheless m not as I will, but as You will.’

Matthew 42. Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying “O My Faith,mid this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.”

Matthew 44. So He left them, and went away again, and prayed a third time, saying the same words.

When someone tells you something three times they are pretty absolute about what they are stating. God through this scripture, is showing us, beyond a shadow of a doubt 2 truths:

1. Our sinned nailed His Son to the cross, there was no other way to redeems us.

2 Jesus died for us willingly (“Your will be done”).

We can either choose to take responsibility for our part or not. I chose to accept this fact and repented. I choose to ask for forgiveness from Him. I choose to follow Him and give Him my life because He gave His life for me. And even then I will fall short. Which is all the more reason I need His blood to cover me.

Lord Jesus you my refuge. Thank you for paying the price that I could never pay. Because of you I can face tomorrow knowing my eternal destiny.

The Truth About The Battle For Your Soul

I urge you as foreigners and exiles to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul- 1 Peter 2:11

Have you ever noticed that whenever you are around a bad odor for awhile your nose adjusts and it no longer smells as bad?

We are living in evil days and if we aren’t careful, after a while we don’t even notice how rotten things have become.

After some time, even Christians start absorbing the world’s values.

The things that we once considered to be wrong begin to seem acceptable as we become more tolerant.

A few years ago my son and his girlfriend needed a place to stay for a few nights. My son and her came in the house and he started to put clean sheets on the bed in my spare bedroom. Without asking he had decided this was where they were going to stay. I proceeded to tell him at they could stay here, but they wouldn’t be sleeping together. They could sleep in separate bedrooms. It wasn’t that I didn’t know they weren’t sleeping together, but they we not married so that wouldn’t be happening in my house. To say the least they found somewhere else to say.

We think it’s okay to live together outside of marriage, especially if it save money because that’s what the world does.

We accept divorce for incompatibility because after Akko shouldn’t we be happy?

And we tolerate lifestyle’s that in the Bible are abominations. Unhealthy and perverse. In the world today they are even trying to push that there are more than two sexes, and the critical race theory thing to say people are better than others based on their skin color..

We begin to look just like the world except that we go to church occasionally.

This is what Paul calls unwise and foolish behavior.

The Bible (especially in Proverbs), we are told that foolish people live for immediate gratification according to their feelings, impulses, and desires.

Like the rich man who built bigger barns to store his goods, but never stopped to consider the fact that today could be his last day on earth, and then he would have to face God and judgement.

Many don’t think about storing up their treasures in heaven.

They are focused completely on the here and now,

In short, they do not understand the will of the Lord, so they are not living wisely. Research shows that in a 2021 census three in ten US adults are now religious,y unaffiliated this is down 75% a decade ago.

To live wise,y, we have to know what God wants us to be, and how to get there. Without spiritual wisdom, we will not be alarmed at the treats to righteous living.

The Bible warns us about the dangers that can sabotage walking wisely with the Lord. Are you living for the here and now, or are you building up treasures in heaven.

Don’t allow the evil one to create an idea in you that focusing on heaven destroys the enjoyment of living out your days on earth.

There are always consequences for our actions,

Remember, Satan attacks and influence are subtle, with degrees of submission. He doesn’t just hit you with haymaker and then walk away and leave you alone. No, he works his way into your mind and changes your logical thinking, so that you will accept more of the world’s values, as a replacement for God’s values.

Godly wisdom is the first line of defense against his attacks. To increase your wisdom, you need to draw closer to the Lord and concentrate on living a righteous life.

There are few people that has the best in mind for your soul. God, you and a Bible believing teacher.

Give Your Brain Time To Regroup

It’s probably not a surprise that our brains receive too much information in a given day.

Studies show that many of us spend more than half of our day receiving and managing information rather than using it to what we need to do.

So, today try to do one of two things. Either you give your brain a break for half an hour (no phone, no work, nothing) or start planning for a full day off. Meaning schedule it, write it down, request it.

Give yourself space to replenish your own energy is critical to you, to your employer and to your family.

It might not seem like taking a walk of getting your nails done would be good for your health but anything that helps you to relax is exactly what we need in this hectic world.

There is a reason God told us to rest on the seventh day.

When you spend some time relaxing. You will be amazed what it does for you. Schedule a time to relax today.