What is Psychological Behaviorism?

Psychological behaviorism is a branch of psychology that focuses on understanding behaviors and actions through observable phenomena. Rather than getting into the complexities of thoughts and feelings, behaviorism emphasizes what we can see and measure. It's all about the external behaviors that can be observed and shaped.

Key Principles of Behaviorism

1. Observable Behavior: Behaviorists believe that only observable actions should be studied. This means that thoughts and feelings are often considered unimportant for scientific study.
2. Learning through Conditioning: Behaviorism is founded on the idea that behaviors are learned through conditioning, which can be classical or operant.
3. Environmental Influence: Behavior is significantly influenced by environmental factors. Our responses to stimuli are shaped by our experiences and surroundings.

Types of Conditioning

1. Classical Conditioning

• Definition: This is a learning process that occurs through associations between an environmental stimulus and a naturally occurring stimulus.
• Example: Think of Pavlov's dogs. They learned to associate the sound of a bell (stimulus) with food (natural stimulus), leading them to salivate simply at the sound of the bell.

2. Operant Conditioning

• Definition: This type involves learning through consequences, where behaviors are strengthened or weakened based on rewards or punishments.
• Example: A child who cleans their room (behavior) might receive praise or a treat (reward), making them more likely to clean their room again in the future.

Categories of Psychological Behaviorism

Behaviorism can be categorized based on different approaches and theories:

• Radical Behaviorism: This approach, developed by B.F. Skinner, emphasizes that all behaviors are a result of environmental interactions and ignores internal states.
• Methodological Behaviorism: This perspective focuses on observable behaviors, but allows for the study of internal states as long as they can be inferred from behavior.

Real-Life Applications of Psychological Behaviorism

• Education: Teachers use behaviorist techniques like rewards and punishments to encourage desired behaviors in the classroom. For instance, a teacher may give stickers to students who complete their homework.
• Therapy: Behavioral therapy often incorporates behaviorism principles, using techniques such as exposure therapy for phobias, where individuals gradually face their fears in a controlled environment.
• Parenting: Parents can apply behaviorism by recognizing that certain behaviors can be encouraged or discouraged through positive reinforcement (like praise) or negative reinforcement (like time-outs).

Steps to Apply Behaviorism in Daily Life

1. Identify the Behavior: Determine the specific behavior you want to change or reinforce.
2. Choose a Strategy: Decide whether to use rewards or consequences.
3. Implement Consistently: Consistency is key. Apply the chosen strategy regularly to see results.
4. Monitor Progress: Keep track of how the behavior changes over time.
5. Adjust as Necessary: If the desired behavior isn't changing, consider modifying your approach or strategy.

Comparison with Other Psychological Approaches

Unlike cognitive psychology, which focuses on internal thoughts and feelings, behaviorism sticks strictly to observable actions. Here's a quick comparison:

• Behaviorism: Studies observable behaviors, emphasizes environmental influences, and uses conditioning.
• Cognitive Psychology: Focuses on mental processes like thinking, memory, and problem-solving.

By understanding psychological behaviorism, we can learn how our actions are shaped by our environment and how we can influence our behaviors positively.