Behaviorism: A Review of the Literature
Behaviorism is a psychological theory that explores the relationship between environmental and stimulus-response behavior. It is a form of behavior modification that focuses on the observable behavior of an individual and attempts to alter or modify it through various techniques. This paper will provide an overview of behaviorism, its history, and its various applications in modern psychology.
History
Behaviorism originated in the early 1900s with the work of John Watson, who is considered to be the father of behaviorism. Watson argued that behavior is determined by external factors, rather than by internal forces. He believed that the environment was the main source of influence on behavior and that through conditioning, a person could be taught to respond in a certain way to a particular stimulus. Watson’s work led to the development of classical conditioning, which is the process of associating a stimulus with a response.
In the 1920s, B.F. Skinner developed the concept of operant conditioning, which is a type of conditioning that involves reinforcement and punishment to modify behavior. Through operant conditioning, a person is taught to associate a particular behavior with a particular consequence. For example, if a person is given a reward or punishment for engaging in a certain behavior, they are more likely to repeat the behavior in the future.
Applications
Behaviorism has a wide range of applications in psychology. It is used in the treatment of mental health disorders, such as anxiety and depression, as well as in the treatment of behavior disorders, such as autism and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Additionally, it is used in the treatment of learning disabilities, such as dyslexia and dyscalculia.
Behaviorism is also used in the fields of education and organizational psychology. In the field of education, behaviorism is used to help students learn new skills and knowledge, as well as to modify unwanted behaviors. In the field of organizational psychology, behaviorism is used to improve job performance and increase productivity.
Conclusion
Behaviorism is a psychological theory that examines the relationship between environmental factors and behavior. Through its various techniques, such as classical and operant conditioning, behaviorism is used to modify and control behavior. It has a wide range of applications in psychology, including the treatment of mental health disorders, behavior disorders, and learning disabilities. Additionally, it is used in the fields of education and organizational psychology.
References
Gross, R. (2014). Psychology: The science of mind and behavior (7th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw Hill.
Lefrancois, G. (2012). Psychology: The study of human experience (2nd ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
Skinner, B. F. (1953). Science and human behavior. New York, NY: Macmillan.
Watson, J. B. (1913). Psychology as the behaviorist views it. Psychological Review, 20(2), 158-177.