Behavioral theory

Behaviorism has been an enduring perspective in psychology, describing the ways that experience changes organisms' ability to adapt to their changing environments. Behavioral approaches have changed over time to include many other elements, such as cognition. Some praise this approach for its practical applications and scientific rigor, while others suggest shortcomings.

Suggested Readings and Resources

Behaviorism. In The Columbia Encyclopedia, sixth edition (2001-05). [Brief encyclopedia entry.]

• http://www.bartleby.com/65/be/behavrism.html

Behaviorism: The rise and fall of a discipline. (1999). APA Monitor Online, 30(11).

• http://www.apa.org/monitor/dec99/ss6.html

Hauser, L. (n.d.) Behaviorism. In The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. [web page]

• http://www.iep.utm.edu/b/behavior.htm

Peters, R, S. (2003). Behaviorism. In Dictionary of the History of Ideas. Available online:

• http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/cgi-local/DHI/dhi.cgi?id=dv1-30

Yerkes, R. M. & Morgulis, S. (1909). The method of Pawlow [Pavlov] in animal psychology. Psychological Bulletin, 6, 257-273.

• http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Yerkes/pavlov.htm

Watson, J. B. (1907). Studying the mind of animals. The World Today, 12, 421-426. (In this early paper, John Watson, who is generally labeled a "behaviorist," described his observations in terms of "the mind" of animals).

• http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Watson/Animals/index.htm

Watson, John B. (1913). Psychology as the behaviorist views it. Psychological Review, 20, 158-177.

• http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Watson/views.htm

Introduction to the above article, Watson (1913) by Christopher D. Green.

• http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Watson/intro.htm

Commentary on Watson (1913) by Robert H. Wozniak.

• http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Watson/commentary.htm

Skinner, B. F. (1956). A case history in the scientific method. American Psychologist, 11, 221-233.

Skinner, B. F. (1975). The steep and thorny way to a science of behavior. American Psychologist, 30, 42-49. Reprinted in J. M. Notterman (Ed.), The evolution of psychology: Fifty years of the American Psychologist (pp. 173-185). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

B. F. Skinner Foundation (web home page)

• http://www.bfskinner.org/index.asp

On the B. F. Skinner Foundation website, a biography contributed by Skinner's daughter

• http://www.bfskinner.org/bio.asp

Smith, L. D. (2002). On prediction and control: B. F. Skinner and the technological ideal of science. In W. E. Pickren (Ed.). Evolving perspectives on the history of psychology (pp. 255-272). Reprinted from American Psychologist, 47, 216-223. (Originally published in 1992)

Learning can produce (some) mental disorders:

Jones, M. C. (1924). A laboratory study of fear: The case of Peter. Pedagogical Seminary, 31, 308-315.

• http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Jones/

Watson, J. B. (1916). Behavior and the concept of mental disease. Journal of Philosophy, Psychology, and Scientific Methods, 13, 589-597.

• http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Watson/mental.htm

Biology has prepared us with mechanisms to learn some important behaviors.

Harlow, H. F. (1958). The nature of love. American Psychologist, 13, 573-685.

• http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Harlow/love.htm