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What Is Behaviorism?
By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Updated on November 07, 2022
Reviewed by David Susman, PhD
Behaviorism is 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 environmental stimuli.
In simple terms, according to this school of thought, also known as behavioral
psychology, 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 studied, as cognition, emotions, and mood are far too subjective.
Strict behaviorists believe that any person—regardless of genetic background, personality
traits, and internal thoughts— can be trained to perform any task, within the limits of their
physical capabilities. It only requires the right conditioning.
History of Behaviorism
Behaviorism was formally established with the 1913 publication of John B. Watson's
classic paper, "Psychology as the Behaviorist Views It." It is best summed up by the
following quote from Watson, who is often 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 guarantee to take any one at random and train him to become any type of
specialist I might select—doctor, lawyer, artist, merchant-chief and, yes, even beggar-man
and thief, regardless of his talents, penchants, tendencies, abilities, vocations, and race of
his ancestors."
Simply put, strict behaviorists believe that all behaviors are the result of experience.
Any person, regardless of their background, can be trained to act in a particular
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manner given the right conditioning.
From about 1920 through the mid-1950s, behaviorism became 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 that 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 looking at
one's past and present 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, the associated
stimulus becomes known as the conditioned stimulus and the learned behavior is known
as the conditioned response.
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Learning Through Association
The classical conditioning process works by developing an association between an
environmental stimulus and a naturally occurring stimulus.
In physiologist Ivan Pavlov's classic experiments, 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 alone 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. It 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, sometimes referred to as instrumental 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 reoccur.
Consequences Affect Learning
Behaviorist 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 the consequences of that behavior, you learn.
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For example, if a parent rewards their child with praise every time they pick up their toys,
the desired behavior is consistently reinforced and the child will become more likely to
clean up messes.
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 has 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. These can involve
either continuous or partial reinforcement.
Continuous reinforcement involves rewarding every single instance of a behavior.
It is often used at the beginning of the operant conditioning process. Then, as the
behavior is learned, the schedule might switch to 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 unpredictable
number of responses or amount of time must occur before the reinforcement is
delivered.
Uses for Behaviorism
The behaviorist perspective has a few different uses, including some related to education
and mental health.
Education
Behaviorism can be used to help students learn, such as by influencing lesson design.
For instance, some teachers use consistent encouragement to help students learn
(operant conditioning) while others focus more on creating a stimulating environment to
increase engagement (classical conditioning).
Research
One of the greatest strengths of behavioral psychology is the ability to clearly observe
and measure behaviors. Because behaviorism is based on observable behaviors, it is
often easier to quantify and collect data when conducting research.
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Mental Health
Behavioral therapy was born from behaviorism and originally used in the treatment of
autism and schizophrenia. This type of therapy involves helping people change
problematic thoughts and behaviors, thereby improving mental health.
Effective therapeutic techniques such as intensive behavioral intervention, behavior
analysis, token economies, and discrete trial training are all rooted in behaviorism. These
approaches are often very useful in changing maladaptive or harmful behaviors in both
children and adults.
Impact of Behaviorism
Several thinkers influenced behavioral psychology. Among these are Edward Thorndike,
a pioneering psychologist who described the law of effect, and Clark Hull, who proposed
the drive theory of learning.
There are a number of therapeutic techniques rooted in behavioral psychology. Though
behavioral psychology assumed more of a background position after 1950, its principles
still remain important.
Even today, behavior analysis is often used as a therapeutic technique to help children
with autism and developmental delays acquire new skills. It frequently involves processes
such as shaping (rewarding closer approximations to the desired behavior) and chaining
(breaking a task down into smaller parts, then teaching and chaining the subsequent
steps together).
Other behavioral therapy techniques include aversion therapy, systematic
desensitization, token economies, behavior modeling, and contingency
management.
Criticisms of Behaviorism
Many critics argue that behaviorism is a one-dimensional approach to understanding
human behavior. They suggest that behavioral theories do not account for free will or
internal influences such as moods, thoughts, and feelings.
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Freud, for example, felt that behaviorism failed by not accounting for the unconscious
mind's thoughts, feelings, and desires, which influence people's actions. Other thinkers,
such as Carl Rogers and other humanistic psychologists, believed that behaviorism was
too rigid and limited, failing to take into consideration personal agency.
More recently, biological psychology has emphasized the role the brain and genetics play
in determining and influencing human actions. The cognitive approach to psychology
focuses on mental processes such as thinking, decision-making, language, and problem-
solving. In both cases, behaviorism neglects these processes and influences in favor of
studying only observable behaviors.
Behavioral psychology also does not account for other types of learning that occur without
the use of reinforcement and punishment. Moreover, people and animals can adapt their
behavior when new information is introduced, even if that behavior was established
through reinforcement.
A Word From Verywell
While the behavioral approach might not be the dominant force that it once was, it has still
had a major impact on our understanding of human psychology. The conditioning process
alone has been used to understand many different types of behaviors, ranging from how
people learn to how language develops.
But perhaps the greatest contributions of behavioral psychology lie in its practical
applications. Its techniques can play a powerful role in modifying problematic behavior
and encouraging more positive, helpful responses. Outside of psychology, parents,
teachers, animal trainers, and many others make use of basic behavioral principles to
help teach new behaviors and discourage unwanted ones.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Who founded behaviorism?
John B. Watson is known as the founder of behaviorism. Though others had
similar ideas in the early 1900s, when behavioral theory began, some suggest
that Watson is credited as behavioral psychology's founder due to being "an
attractive, strong, scientifically accomplished, and forceful speaker and an
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engaging writer" who was willing to share this behavioral approach when other
psychologists were less likely to speak up.
How is behaviorism used in education?
Behaviorism can be used to help elicit positive behaviors or responses in
students, such as by using reinforcement. Teachers with a behavioral approach
often use "skill and drill" exercises to reinforce correct responses through
consistent repetition, for instance.
Other ways reinforcement-based behaviorism can be used in education include
praising students for getting the right answer and providing prizes for those
who do well. Using tests to measure performance enables teachers to
measure observable behaviors and is, therefore, another behavioral approach.
What makes behaviorism different from
psychoanalysis?
Behaviorism says that behavior is a result of environment, the environment
being an external stimulus. Psychoanalysis is the opposite of this, in that it is
rooted in the belief that behavior is a result of an internal stimulus.
Psychoanalytic theory is based on behaviors being motivated by one's
unconscious mind, thus resulting in actions that are consistent with their
unknown wishes and desires.
What is cognitive behaviorism?
Whereas strict behaviorism has no room for cognitive influences, cognitive
behaviorism operates on the assumption that behavior is impacted by thoughts
and emotions. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), for instance, attempts to
change negative behaviors by changing the destructive thought patterns
behind them.
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Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within
our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content
accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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Additional Reading
Mills JA. Control: A History of Behavioral Psychology. New York University Press.
Skinner BF. About Behaviorism. Alfred A. Knopf.
Watson JB. Behaviorism. Transaction Publishers.
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