Introduction to Behavioral Psychology

Behavioral Psychology or Behaviorism is one of the schools of psychology that had its beginning in 20 th century. Behaviorism was propagated by popular figures like Ivan Pavlov who is often associated with his famous theories on ‘conditioning' and John B. Watson. Another major personality who had tremendous influence on the behaviorist school is B. F. Skinner. As a contemporary theory to psychoanalysis, both theories had influence on each other. It has to be noted that Behaviorism is just a branch of psychology but it has much wider area and it is a branch of philosophy as well.

Basic Theory of Behavioral Psychology/Behaviorism

Behaviorism rejected the significance of freewill on human personality. This basic principle makes it a materialistic or naturalistic school of thought. As per behaviorism brain there is no room for discussion on human soul. Only observable phenomena count, hence mental processes have no bearing in this context. Human beings simply respond to external stimuli and there is no room for discussion of freewill. As external stimuli control our actions and we only respond or react to situations and we are not culpable for what we do. It rejects consciousness and introspection of consciousness as valid scientific data. However, they advocate that environment has a great say on the behavior pattern along with one's genetic heredity. Human beings can be thought to do anything or made to do anything through effective conditioning and the use of reward and punishment principle. The same applies to animals as well within their capabilities.

Theories of Behavioral Psychology/Behaviorism

There are various types of behaviorist theories which can be generally classified as follows:

Classical Behaviorism

Methodological Behaviorism

Radical Behaviorism

Teleological Behaviorism and

Theoretical Behaviorism

Criticism on Behaviorism

Though popular it was, behaviorism was severely criticized for totally denying mental processes and the significance of mental processes and feelings and emotions on human beings. It reduces human beings to observable phenomenon.