behaviorism

n. an approach to psychology, formulated in 1913 by John B. Watson, based on the study of objective, observable facts rather than subjective, qualitative processes, such as feelings, motives, and consciousness. To make psychology a naturalistic science, Watson proposed to limit it to quantitative events, such as stimulus–response relationships, effects of conditioning, physiological processes, and a study of human and animal behavior, all of which can best be investigated through laboratory experiments that yield objective measures under controlled conditions. Historically, behaviorists held that mind was not a proper topic for scientific study since mental events are subjective and not independently verifiable. With its emphasis on activity as an adaptive function, behaviorism is seen as an outgrowth of functionalism. See descriptive behaviorism; methodological behaviorism; neobehaviorism; radical behaviorism.

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Psychology term of the day

October 18th 2024

tic

n. a sudden, involuntary vocalization (vocal tic) or contraction of a small group of muscles (motor tic) that is recurrent and nonrhythmic. Tics may be simple (e.g., eye blinking, shoulder shrugging, grimacing, throat clearing, grunting, yelping) or complex (e.g., hand gestures, touching, jumping, echolalia, coprolalia). They may be psychogenic in origin, or they may occur as an adverse effect of a medication or other substance or result from a head injury, neurological disorder, or general medical condition.