behavioral psychology
Stimulus-response study field
Behavioral psychology is the branch of psychology that studies observable behavior rather than internal mental states.
It emphasizes how environment and experience shape actions through conditioning—the process by which behaviors are learned through rewards, punishments, and associations.
Also called behaviorism.
Behavioral psychology dominated American universities in the mid-twentieth century.
Adding support or encouragement
- stimulusWhat prompts a reaction
- responseAnswer to stimulus
- operantProducing an effect
- classicalOf ancient Greece/Rome
Pavlov · Skinner · extinction · generalization · discrimination · shaping · associative · aversive
Anxiety treatment through confrontation
- aversion therapyTreatment pairing unwanted behavior with discomfort
- floodingOverwhelming water accumulation
- assertiveness trainingTeaching confident communication
- social skills trainingStructured interpersonal competence development
anger management · biofeedback · self-monitoring · token economy
Simulating or demonstrating form
- imitationCopy of the original
- social learningAcquiring behavior through observation
- acquisitionAct of obtaining something
- skill acquisitionGaining new abilities
habit formation · self-efficacy · prompting · fading · chaining · transfer · maintenance · overlearning
Reduced response over time
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
- sensory adaptationDiminished response to constant stimuli
- exposureState of being unprotected
- toleranceWillingness to accept difference
Systematic testing of ideas
- empiricalBased on observation, not theory
- baselineStandard for comparison
- data collectionSystematic accumulation of facts
- latencyDelay in system response
reinforcement
Adding support or encouragement
classical · Pavlov · Skinner · extinction · generalization · discrimination · shaping · associative · aversive · positive reinforcement
exposure therapy
Anxiety treatment through confrontation
- aversion therapyTreatment pairing unwanted behavior with discomfort
- floodingOverwhelming water accumulation
- assertiveness trainingTeaching confident communication
social skills training · anger management · biofeedback · self-monitoring · token economy
modeling
Simulating or demonstrating form
- imitationCopy of the original
- social learningAcquiring behavior through observation
- acquisitionAct of obtaining something
skill acquisition · habit formation · self-efficacy · prompting · fading · chaining · transfer · maintenance · overlearning
desensitization
Reduced response over time
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
- sensory adaptationDiminished response to constant stimuli
- exposureState of being unprotected
experimentation
Systematic testing of ideas
- empiricalBased on observation, not theory
- baselineStandard for comparison
- data collectionSystematic accumulation of facts
latency · graphing · replication · variables
- psychologytherapist, psychiatrist, neuropsychology, psychotherapy, memory
- rewardreward, reinforcement, incentive, gratification, pleasure
behavioral psychologypsychoanalysis
Treatment via unconscious exploration
cognitive psychology · depth psychology · mentalism · Jungian psychology · folk psychology
behavioral psychologynativism
Preference for native-born citizens
neuropsychology · evolutionary psychology · mentalism · cognitive science · genetic determinism
behavior, misbehave, behaving, psychology, behaved, psychologist, psychological, behaviors, psychologists