What is behaviorism?
Behaviorism is the psychological theory that human behavior can be explained through conditioning or the learning process rather than biology or emotions. This approach can seek to improve one’s emotions, behaviors, and thoughts by establishing new patterns. Understanding this psychological theory may help you decide whether it could help you on your mental health journey.
What is behaviorism?
Behaviorism rose to popularity more significantly at the beginning of the 20th century. In the present day, behaviorism-based findings are often used alongside other theories and therapies that acknowledge the "unseen" and internal processes people can have—such as thinking, feeling, memory, and hereditary factors.
While behaviorism was once profoundly rooted in strictly observable, external factors, therapists and psychologists today can combine its principles with other research and methods to help clients who may be working to change behaviors or create new ones. It is often used in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which combines cognitive and behavioral theories from the past and present.
Reviewing conditioning in behaviorism
Within the theory of behaviorism, there are two often agreed-upon variations of conditioning or learning: classical conditioning and operant conditioning.
Classical conditioning
Classical conditioning is a learning process that can occur when two unrelated stimuli are paired to produce a particular result. For example, some believe Ivan Pavlov demonstrated classical conditioning through his research and work—most notably his study where he paired a bell with the presentation of food for his dogs. Over time, the dogs learned to associate the bell with food, and the sound of the bell alone resulted in the dogs' salivation.
Operant conditioning
Contrarily, operant conditioning involves encouraging certain behaviors via reinforcement. This type of learning can strengthen a behavior by following it with a reinforcing condition like a reward. A behavior may also be decreased by reinforcing the opposite of the conduct or by giving a consequence for the behavior to change. However, negative reinforcement is often controversial and can be harmful when used in forms of therapy.
The growth and evolution of psychology
As psychology grows and evolves, so does humanity’s understanding of humans. As a course of study, behaviorism often focuses on how external means can change and encourage behaviors. This area has been thought to lead to techniques to help people learn behaviors and stop unhelpful behaviors.
Behaviorism has also been historically combined with other approaches to understanding psychology and human behavior to create integrative therapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy.
What is cognitive-behavioral therapy?
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a therapeutic approach that can teach people to replace their unhelpful thoughts with positive thoughts to change behavioral urges. Changing one’s core beliefs and thoughts can allow one to experience a higher quality of life, even if they are experiencing stress or stimuli, making it challenging.
CBT involves more than cognitive restructuring. CBT therapists can also teach coping techniques that can be used at home and may assign homework to help clients keep the lessons they’ve learned in mind at home. Techniques might include roleplaying, deep breathing, meditation, mindfulness, and other lifestyle changes.
Because of its influence on CBT and other common behavioral therapy modalities, behaviorism continues to shape psychology in the present day, helping researchers, scientists, and mental health professionals understand humanity more profoundly. With this knowledge and perspective, experts can develop unique, effective methods for treating mental health conditions and daily challenges.
Support options
If you want to change your habits, it may be helpful to work alongside a professional. However, it may be challenging to look for mental health support if you have a busy schedule or can’t afford therapy rates in your area. In these cases, you may consider an online therapy platform like BetterHelp, which can allow you to receive support from anywhere you have an internet connection, including your own home. In many cases, online therapy is more cost-effective than in-person options.
Researchers at the University of Amsterdam have been studying the efficacy of online cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) since 1996. Their studies have consistently found details that support the hypothesis that online-based CBT can be as effective as face-to-face therapy for treating various mental health conditions. These positive results have been maintained over extended periods and suggest that online CBT “can be a viable and effective alternative to face-to-face treatment.”
Takeaway
Whether you get care online or in person, there are hundreds of therapeutic modalities to try. However, if you’ve faced barriers to traditional therapy, you might consider going online to get matched with a provider.
How does behaviorism theory influence learning?
Behaviorism is a theory about unconscious learning based on the idea that human and animal behavior are acquired through conditioning. A classic example of conditioning is Pavlov’s dogs learning to associate the ringing of a bell with food and subsequently beginning to drool at the sound of the bell. In teaching, behaviorism can be used to influence the classroom environment. Teachers may use stimulating decor to increase alertness and interaction in the classroom, as well as positive reinforcement and consistent encouragement to keep students motivated to learn.
What are the facts about behaviorism theory?
Methodological behaviorism gained popularity at the beginning of the 20th century. Since then, many facts have been established:
- There are two variations of conditioning in behaviorism: classical conditioning and operant conditioning.
- Classical conditioning is the process in which an automated, conditioned response is paired with specific stimuli. Most work on classical conditioning is credited to Ivan Pavlov, who had such a significant influence in the field that this type of conditioning is sometimes referred to as Pavlovian conditioning.
- Operant conditioning was first described by B. F. Skinner and involves encouraging behavior modifications by positive or negative reinforcement.
- Behaviorism continues to shape psychology today. It heavily influences cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and helps scientists, researchers, and mental health professionals understand humanity.
Why is behaviorism important to people?
Behaviorism has had some controversies, but it can be an important part of learning and behavior modification when used ethically. Modern therapy techniques, like CBT, partially rely on behavioral techniques, and behavioral therapy may be helpful in treating some developmental disorders like ADHD. Other forms of therapy, like applied behavior analysis or verbal behavior therapy, draw on the ideas of behaviorism and can be used to treat autism. Teachers can also use behaviorism in the form of rewards and punishments in the classroom to modify student behavior and enhance learning.
What is the main focus of behaviorism?
Behaviorism is based on objective, observable facts rather than subjective processes like feelings, consciousness, and motives. The founder of behaviorism, John B. Watson, proposed that it should be limited to quantitative events that could be studied using experimental analysis to make psychology a naturalistic science, an idea known as radical behaviorism. Watson wrote that behaviorism was “a purely objective experimental branch of natural science. Its theoretical goal is … prediction and control.”
What is an example of behaviorism in everyday life?
Some examples of behaviorism in everyday life are the following:
- A child’s sticker chart for chores where the child gets to choose a prize when the chart is full
- A parent rewarding their toddler with a piece of candy every time they use the potty
- Employee bonuses for excellent work performance
- A teacher assigning homework only to students who have below a certain grade
- Giving a pet a treat when they sit on command
How do behaviorists study personality?
Behaviorists view personality as shaped by consequences and reinforcements outside of the person rather than as something inborn. B. F. Skinner argued that personality develops and changes over the entire lifespan with exposure to external stimuli, which opposed some other ideas about personality, like those of Freud who believed that personality was fixed in childhood. Following this thinking, a behaviorist may study personality by looking at how various events in a person’s life have changed their personality and other observable behaviors. For example, someone who was a risk taker in their youth may change their behavior after having children because the risks and reinforcements in their environment changes.
How is behaviorism used in today's society?
Today, behaviorism can be used as a tool in behavioral and brain sciences, learning, and behavior modification. Some therapy techniques, like CBT and behavioral therapy, use behavioral techniques to treat people with disorders like ADHD and PTSD. Teachers can also use behaviorism to get students to exhibit desired behaviors and encourage learning in the classroom by using various forms of punishments and rewards.
How does behaviorism affect personality?
Behaviorism believes that personality is shaped by reinforcements and consequences outside of a person rather than being something that is inborn. According to this theory, environmental stimuli and the situations that a person goes through in their life can change their personality and behaviors over time.
How do behaviorists view learning?
Behaviorists define learning as changes in observable behavior. They believed that because no one can ever really know the cognitive processes going on in someone else’s head to collect data, it was not appropriate to speculate or guess what they were learning. They believed that watching for measurable changes in external behavior could be an appropriate way to determine if learning was occurring.
What are the advantages of behavioral theory?
One of the advantages of behavioral theory may be the implication that everyone can change learned behavior with the right reinforcement. Rather than some other approaches to learning and personality that assume many aspects are fixed, behavioral theory provides a possible way for people to change undesirable behaviors.
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