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Behaviorism: meaning, definitions and examples

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behaviorism

 

[ bɪˈheɪvjərɪzəm ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

psychological theory

Behaviorism is a psychological approach that emphasizes the study of observable behavior as the primary subject of psychology. It posits that all behaviors are acquired through conditioning and can be studied in a systematic and observable manner. Behaviorists advocate that the internal mental state is not central to understanding behavior. Instead, they focus on the relationship between stimuli and responses, highlighting the impact of the environment on individual behavior.

Synonyms

behavioral psychology, conditioned response, learning theory

Examples of usage

  • The principles of behaviorism have transformed teaching methods.
  • He adopted a behaviorist approach to understand learning patterns.
  • Many psychologists support behaviorism due to its empirical basis.

Translations

Translations of the word "behaviorism" in other languages:

🇵🇹 behaviorismo

🇮🇳 व्यवहारवाद

🇩🇪 Behaviorismus

🇮🇩 behaviorisme

🇺🇦 біхевіоризм

🇵🇱 behawioryzm

🇯🇵 行動主義

🇫🇷 béhaviorisme

🇪🇸 conductismo

🇹🇷 davranışçılık

🇰🇷 행동주의

🇸🇦 السلوكية

🇨🇿 behaviorismus

🇸🇰 behaviorizmus

🇨🇳 行为主义

🇸🇮 behaviorizem

🇮🇸 hegðunarspeki

🇰🇿 мінез-құлық теориясы

🇬🇪 ბიჰევიორიზმი

🇦🇿 davranışçılıq

🇲🇽 conductismo

Etymology

The term 'behaviorism' emerged in the early 20th century, particularly associated with the work of psychologists such as John B. Watson and B.F. Skinner. Watson's 1913 paper 'Psychology as the Behaviorist Views It' is often cited as a foundational text of behaviorism. He rejected the introspective methods of studying mental states, arguing instead for a focus on what could be directly observed. Skinner later expanded this theory with his work on operant conditioning, demonstrating how reinforcement and punishment shape behavior. The growth of behaviorism represented a significant shift in psychology, moving towards more objective and measurable practices. Throughout the 20th century, behaviorism was a dominant paradigm in psychology, influencing various fields including education, therapy, and animal training.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #27,648, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.