Behaviourism is a psychological theory that focuses on observable behaviours and the environmental factors that influence them. It is a school of thought that believes that behaviour is shaped by the environment, and that people learn through experiences and interactions with the world around them. In this article, we will explore the definition and meaning of behaviourism, its origin, and its associations.
Definitions
Behaviourism is a theory that suggests that behaviour can be understood and predicted through the observation of external stimuli and the responses they elicit. It is a school of thought that emphasizes the importance of environmental factors in shaping behaviour, and it rejects the idea that human behaviour is governed by internal mental states.
Origin
Behaviourism emerged as a distinct school of thought in the early 20th century, with the work of psychologists such as John Watson and B.F. Skinner. Watson, in particular, is often credited with founding behaviourism, and his 1913 paper “Psychology as the Behaviorist Views It” is considered a seminal text in the field.
Meaning in different dictionaries
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, behaviourism is “the theory or doctrine that human or animal psychology can be accurately studied only through the examination and analysis of objectively observable and quantifiable behavioural events, in contrast with subjective mental states.” Merriam-Webster defines it as “a school of psychology that takes the objective evidence of behavior (such as measured responses to stimuli) as the only concern of its research and the only basis of its theory without reference to conscious experience.”
Associations
Behaviourism is often associated with the work of psychologists such as John Watson, B.F. Skinner, and Ivan Pavlov. It is also associated with the study of animal behaviour, as many behaviourists conducted research on animals in order to better understand human behaviour. Behaviourism has been influential in fields such as education, where it has been used to develop teaching methods that focus on observable behaviours rather than internal mental states.
Synonyms
Some synonyms of behaviourism include behavioural psychology, behaviour analysis, and behavioural science.
Antonyms
Antonyms of behaviourism might include cognitive psychology, which focuses on internal mental processes, and psychoanalysis, which emphasizes the importance of unconscious thoughts and emotions.
The same root words
The word “behaviourism” is derived from the word “behaviour,” which refers to the way in which people or animals act or conduct themselves.
Example Sentences
- Behaviourism suggests that behaviour is shaped by environmental factors.
- Behaviourists believe that people learn through experiences and interactions with the world around them.
- John Watson is often credited with founding behaviourism.
- Behaviourism has been influential in fields such as education and animal training.
- Some antonyms of behaviourism include cognitive psychology and psychoanalysis.