Posted: February 7th, 2024

Behaviorism

Behaviorism is a theory of learning that explains human and animal behavior by conditioning, stimulus-response, and reductionism. Behaviorism emerged in the early 20th century as a reaction to the introspective methods of psychology, which relied on subjective reports of mental states. Behaviorists argued that psychology should focus on observable and measurable behaviors, and the environmental factors that influence them. Behaviorists also believed that behavior can be modified by reinforcement and punishment, and that all behaviors are learned from the environment.

There are two main types of behaviorism: classical conditioning and operant conditioning. Classical conditioning is a form of learning in which a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a meaningful stimulus, and elicits a similar response. For example, Pavlov’s dogs learned to salivate at the sound of a bell, after the bell was repeatedly paired with food. Operant conditioning is a form of learning in which the consequences of a behavior affect the likelihood of its repetition. For example, Skinner’s rats learned to press a lever to obtain food or avoid shock, depending on the reinforcement or punishment they received.

Behaviorism has been influential in many fields of psychology, such as learning, education, therapy, and animal behavior. Behaviorism has also contributed to the development of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which combines behavioral techniques with cognitive strategies to help people change their thoughts and actions. However, behaviorism has also faced criticism for being too simplistic, deterministic, and neglecting the role of internal mental processes, emotions, and biological factors in behavior.

References:

– McLeod, S. (2024). Behaviorism in psychology. Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/behaviorism.html
– Cherry, K., & Susman, D. (2022). Behaviorism: Definition, history, concepts, and impact. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/behavioral-psychology-4157183
– Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Behaviorism. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved February 7, 2024, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/behaviorism
– Wikipedia contributors. (2024). Behaviorism. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved February 7, 2024, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behaviorism
– Psychology Today Editorial Staff. (n.d.). Behaviorism. Psychology Today. Retrieved February 7, 2024, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/behaviorism

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