behaviourism: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (Specialist)Academic / Technical
Quick answer
What does “behaviourism” mean?
The theory or doctrine that the study of psychology should be based on observable, measurable behaviour and external environmental factors, rather than on introspection and the study of internal mental states.
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Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The theory or doctrine that the study of psychology should be based on observable, measurable behaviour and external environmental factors, rather than on introspection and the study of internal mental states.
In a broader context, an approach in any field (e.g., political science, economics) that focuses on observable actions and their external causes, often neglecting internal motivations or cognitive processes.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The spelling 'behaviourism' is standard in British, Canadian, Australian, and other Commonwealth English. 'Behaviorism' (without the 'u') is standard in American English. The difference is purely orthographic.
Connotations
Identical connotations in both varieties. It can have a neutral technical connotation or a slightly pejorative one, suggesting an outdated or overly simplistic view of human psychology.
Frequency
Of similar, low frequency in academic contexts in both varieties. The American spelling 'behaviorism' is more frequently encountered globally due to the preponderance of US academic publishing.
Grammar
How to Use “behaviourism” in a Sentence
adherence to behaviourisma critique of behaviourismthe tenets of behaviourismbehaviourism as a school of thoughtVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “behaviourism” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He aimed to behaviourise psychological concepts, focusing solely on measurable responses.
- The study sought to behaviourise the phenomenon of attention.
American English
- Early 20th-century psychologists sought to behaviorize all mental phenomena.
- It is difficult to behaviorize complex emotions like love.
adverb
British English
- The researcher argued behaviouristically, dismissing introspective data.
- He interpreted the results purely behaviouristically.
American English
- The paper analyzes the data behavioristically, looking only at response times.
- She argued behavioristically for environmental causes.
adjective
British English
- The behaviourist approach dominated mid-century experimental psychology.
- She holds a strong behaviourist viewpoint on language acquisition.
American English
- Skinner's behaviorist experiments with operant conditioning are famous.
- A behaviorist perspective would ignore the subject's reported feelings.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used. Might appear in HR discussions about incentive structures, framed as 'applying behaviourist principles'.
Academic
Primary context. Used in psychology, philosophy, education, and political science courses and literature.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Laypeople might use it vaguely to describe a focus on actions over thoughts.
Technical
Core technical term in psychology and related disciplines, denoting a specific historical and theoretical approach.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “behaviourism”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “behaviourism”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “behaviourism”
- Misspelling as 'behavourism' (British) or 'behaviorism' (American).
- Using it as a synonym for any study of behaviour (it's a specific theory).
- Confusing it with 'behavioural psychology', which is a broader field.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Behaviourism focuses on external, observable behaviour and its environmental causes (stimulus-response), while cognitivism focuses on internal mental processes like thinking, memory, and problem-solving.
Pure, classical behaviourism is largely historical. However, its emphasis on observation, measurement, and experimental rigour remains foundational. Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA), derived from behaviourist principles, is widely used in therapy and education.
John B. Watson (who founded it), Ivan Pavlov (classical conditioning), and B.F. Skinner (operant conditioning and radical behaviourism) are the most prominent figures.
This is a major point of criticism. B.F. Skinner attempted this in his book 'Verbal Behavior', but Noam Chomsky's famous review argued persuasively that behaviourist principles could not adequately account for the creativity and innate structures of human language.
The theory or doctrine that the study of psychology should be based on observable, measurable behaviour and external environmental factors, rather than on introspection and the study of internal mental states.
Behaviourism is usually academic / technical in register.
Behaviourism: in British English it is pronounced /bɪˈheɪvjərɪz(ə)m/, and in American English it is pronounced /bɪˈheɪvjəˌrɪzəm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To be a behaviourist at heart”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
BEHAVIOURism is all about observable BEHAVIOUR, not inner thoughts.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE MIND IS A BLACK BOX (inputs and outputs can be studied, but the internal workings are irrelevant).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a key principle of behaviourism?