Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Relating to behaviorism: Pertaining to the theory that human and animal behavior can be explained in terms of conditioning, without appeal to thoughts or feelings, and that psychological disorders are best treated by altering behavior patterns.

2. Noun:

   • A psychologist who subscribes to behaviorism: A practitioner or theorist who believes that observable behavior, rather than internal mental states, is the primary focus of psychological study and therapy.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • The researcher used a behaviourist approach, focusing solely on measurable responses to stimuli.
  • Skinner's behaviourist theories were highly influential in mid-20th-century psychology.

• Noun:

  • As a strict behaviourist, she did not consider unconscious motives in her analysis.
  • The behaviourist designed an intervention based on positive reinforcement.

Advanced Usage

• "behaviourist principles": The fundamental ideas of behaviorism, such as reinforcement and punishment.

  • The classroom management system was built on core behaviourist principles.

• "radical behaviourist": A follower of the school of thought (associated with B.F. Skinner) that considers internal events like thinking and feeling as forms of behavior that are also subject to conditioning.

  • The radical behaviourist argued that even private thoughts are shaped by environmental consequences.

Variants and Related Words

• Behaviorist (adj/n): The standard American English spelling.
• Behavioristic (adj): An alternative adjective form meaning 'of or relating to behaviorism'.
  • His behavioristic viewpoint was clear in the paper.
• Behaviorism (n): The school of psychology itself.
  • The debate between cognitive psychology and behaviorism continues.

Synonyms

• Adjective: Behavioristic, conditioning-based, stimulus-response.
• Noun: Behavior therapist (in a clinical context), methodological behaviorist.

Related Phrases

• "behaviourist paradigm": The framework or model of understanding psychology from a behaviorist perspective.

  • The study was conducted within the behaviourist paradigm.

• "behaviourist critique": Criticism leveled from a behaviorist standpoint, often against cognitive or introspective methods.

  • He presented a strong behaviourist critique of the psychoanalytic approach.

Adjective

1. of or relating to behaviorism
   • behavioristic psychology

Noun

1. a psychologist who subscribes to behaviorism