Definition

Noun: - A psychological theory or approach: Behaviourism is a school of thought in psychology that focuses on the scientific study of observable and measurable behaviors, rather than internal mental states like thoughts and feelings. It emphasizes how behaviors are learned through interaction with the environment, primarily through conditioning.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The psychologist's research is grounded in behaviourism, focusing on how rewards and punishments shape actions.
  • Early 20th-century behaviourism argued that only observable behavior should be the subject of psychological study.

Advanced Usage

• "methodological behaviourism": A strict form of behaviourism that insists psychology should only study publicly observable events (stimuli and responses), excluding any discussion of private, internal experiences.
  • Methodological behaviourism rejects introspection as a valid scientific method.
• "radical behaviourism": A philosophy of science for psychology developed by B.F. Skinner, which considers private events (like thinking) as forms of behavior that are also subject to the same environmental influences, though they are more difficult to observe.
  • Radical behaviourism extends the principles of learning to include internal events such as thoughts and emotions.

Variants and Related Words

• Behaviourist (noun): A psychologist or researcher who adheres to the principles of behaviourism.
  • B.F. Skinner was a famous behaviourist.
• Behaviourist (adjective): Relating to or based on behaviourism.
  • She conducted a behaviourist experiment on operant conditioning.
• Behaviouristic (adjective): Another adjective form meaning pertaining to behaviourism.
  • The therapy uses behaviouristic techniques.
• Behaviorism (noun): The American English spelling of "behaviourism".

Synonyms

• Behavioral psychology: The branch of psychology concerned with the study of observable behavior.
• Stimulus-response psychology: Emphasizes the relationship between environmental stimuli and behavioral responses.

Related Phrases and Concepts

• Classical conditioning: A learning process associated with behaviourism, where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a meaningful stimulus to elicit a similar response (e.g., Pavlov's dogs).
  • Classical conditioning is a fundamental concept in behaviourism.
• Operant conditioning: A learning process, central to behaviourism, where behavior is modified by its consequences (reinforcement or punishment).
  • B.F. Skinner's work on operant conditioning was pivotal for behaviourism.

Noun

1. an approach to psychology that emphasizes observable measurable behavior