Behaviorism

Medically reviewed by Melissa Guarnaccia, LCSW
Updated October 11, 2024by BetterHelp Editorial Team

Behaviorism is the psychological theory that human behavior can be explained through conditioning or the learning process rather than biology or emotions. This approach can seek to improve one’s emotions, behaviors, and thoughts by establishing new patterns. Understanding this psychological theory may help you decide whether it could help you on your mental health journey. 

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What is behaviorism? 

Behaviorism is a philosophy in the field of psychology that theorizes that all human behavior is learned through conditioning. Although it explores thoughts, emotions, and feelings, behavior analysis centers more on how people act in their daily lives. It can overlook a person’s inward experience and focus on their observable behavior.

Behaviorism rose to popularity more significantly at the beginning of the 20th century. In the present day, behaviorism-based findings are often used alongside other theories and therapies that acknowledge the "unseen" and internal processes people can have—such as thinking, feeling, memory, and hereditary factors.

The two main types of behaviorism consist of radical behaviorism and methodolcical behaviorism. Behaviorism as a study, explores how peoples behaviors are learned through interaction with the environment, but there are some differences in approach. Methodological behaviorism ignores internal mental processes, and purely focuses on observable, external behaviors. However, radical behaviorism considers internal thoughts, feelings, and mental states, arguing that these internal processes are behaviors in of themselves.

While behaviorism was once profoundly rooted in strictly observable, external factors, therapists and psychologists today can combine its principles with other research and methods to help clients who may be working to change behaviors or create new ones. It is often used in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which combines cognitive and behavioral theories from the past and present. 

Conditioning in behaviorism

Within the theory of behaviorism, there are two often agreed-upon variations of conditioning or learning: classical conditioning and operant conditioning. 

Classical conditioning 

Classical conditioning is a learning process that can occur when two unrelated stimuli are paired to produce a particular result. For example, some believe Ivan Pavlov demonstrated classical conditioning through his research and work—most notably his study where he paired a bell with the presentation of food for his dogs. Over time, the dogs learned to associate a neutral stimulus response (the bell) with food, and the sound of the bell alone resulted in the dogs' salivation. This behavior is one form of classical conditioning.

Operant conditioning 

Contrarily, operant conditioning involves encouraging certain behaviors via reinforcement. This type of learning can strengthen a behavior by following it with a reinforcing condition like a reward. A behavior may also be decreased by reinforcing the opposite of the conduct or by giving a consequence for the behavior to change. One everyday example of operant conditioning is when a teacher praises a student for problem solving in class. Behaviorism or behaviorism learning theory focuses on how students learn effectively, and positive reinforcement may be worthwhile in teaching environments. However, negative reinforcement is often controversial and can be harmful when used in forms of therapy. 

Law of effect

When performing operant or classical conditioning its important to be aware of the law of effect. The law of effect states that behaviors that lead to satisfying results are often repeated, while those that lead to disatisfying results are not. The law effect was founded in 1898 during a study on animal behavior, and is still an important topic in psychology as the behaviorist. Behaviorism learning theories are often centered around these findings. Regardless of behaviorist views, the law of effect is a building block for both classical and operant conditioning, and continually referred to by the researchers, educators, and the university press.

The growth and evolution of psychology

As psychology grows and evolves, so does humanity’s understanding of humans. As a course of study, behaviorism often focuses on how external means can change and encourage behaviors. This area has been thought to lead to techniques to help people learn behaviors and stop unhelpful behaviors. 

Behaviorism has also been historically combined with other approaches to understanding psychology and human behavior to create integrative therapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy. 

What is cognitive-behavioral therapy?

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a therapeutic approach that can teach people to replace their unhelpful thoughts with positive thoughts to change behavioral urges. Changing one’s core beliefs and thoughts can allow one to experience a higher quality of life, even if they are experiencing stress or stimuli, making it challenging. 

CBT involves more than cognitive restructuring. CBT therapists can also teach coping techniques that can be used at home and may assign homework to help clients keep the lessons they’ve learned in mind at home. Techniques might include roleplaying, deep breathing, meditation, mindfulness, and other lifestyle changes. 

Because of its influence on CBT and other common behavioral therapy modalities, behaviorism continues to shape psychology in the present day, helping researchers, scientists, and mental health professionals understand humanity more profoundly. With this knowledge and perspective, experts can develop unique, effective methods for treating mental health conditions and daily challenges. 

Want to learn more about your behavior?

Support options 

If you want to change your habits, it may be helpful to work alongside a professional. However, it may be challenging to look for mental health support if you have a busy schedule or can’t afford therapy rates in your area. In these cases, you may consider an online therapy platform like BetterHelp, which can allow you to receive support from anywhere you have an internet connection, including your own home. In many cases, online therapy is more cost-effective than in-person options. Online you can engage in various forms of behavior therapy, including applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy. Applied behaviour analysis therapy is especially beneficial for children with autism or problematic behaviors.

Researchers at the University of Amsterdam have been studying the efficacy of online cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) since 1996. Their studies have consistently found details that support the hypothesis that online-based CBT can be as effective as face-to-face therapy for treating various mental health conditions. These positive results have been maintained over extended periods and suggest that online CBT “can be a viable and effective alternative to face-to-face treatment.”

Takeaway
Behaviorism is a psychological approach professionals might use when treating and supporting clients. If you believe you could benefit from a behavioral approach in therapy, you may consider connecting to a therapist specializing in this area. Your therapist can use techniques like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to teach you how to reframe your thoughts to be more positive and helpful. 

Whether you get care online or in person, there are hundreds of therapeutic modalities to try. However, if you’ve faced barriers to traditional therapy, you might consider going online to get matched with a provider.

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