​The 10 Types of Behaviorism: History, Theories and Differences

Throughout the history of psychology, numerous currents of thought and schools have been born, each of which interprets the human mind and mental and behavioral processes in a specific way.

One of these currents focused on what they considered the only directly observable correlate of the psyche, behavior, ignoring what they could not measure and trying to make psychology as scientific and objective a science as possible. It’s about behaviorism.

Behaviorism is a significant school of thought in psychology that focuses on understanding human and animal behavior through observable actions, rather than internal mental states. Rooted in the early 20th century, behaviorism revolutionized the field of psychology by proposing that all behaviors are learned through interactions with the environment. It emphasizes the role of environmental stimuli and reinforcement in shaping behavior.

Throughout history, several different types or schools of behaviorism have emerged, each with its unique perspectives on how behavior is influenced and modified. In this article, we will explore the ten major types of behaviorism, their history, key theories, and the key differences between them.

What is Behaviorism?

Behaviorism is a psychological approach that focuses on the study of observable behaviors rather than unobservable mental processes like thoughts or emotions. It argues that all behaviors are acquired through conditioning, which is influenced by the environment. Behaviorism can be broadly divided into two types of conditioning: classical conditioning and operant conditioning.

Classical Conditioning:

This theory, first introduced by Ivan Pavlov, is based on the idea that a behavior can be learned through association. Pavlov’s famous experiment with dogs demonstrated that animals could learn to associate a neutral stimulus (a bell) with an unconditioned stimulus (food), eventually causing the neutral stimulus to elicit the same response (salivation) as the unconditioned stimulus.

Operant Conditioning:

B.F. Skinner developed the concept of operant conditioning, which states that behaviors are shaped and maintained by consequences, either reinforcements or punishments. For instance, a behavior followed by a positive consequence (reward) is more likely to be repeated, while a behavior followed by a negative consequence (punishment) is less likely to recur.

The behavioral paradigm

Behaviorism is one of the main theoretical currents of psychology. Born at a time in history when the psychodynamic current predominated, behaviorism opposed and differed greatly from its conception.

Behaviorism focuses on trying to offer the most scientific and objective explanation possible of psychic phenomena and human behavior, ignoring all information that cannot be directly observed. It proposes that the only clearly observable aspect of the psyche is behavior, this being the only element with which it is possible to work scientifically.

It does not deny aspects such as mental processes, but it considers them secondary, a black box impossible to study. Behaviorism is an environmentally oriented paradigm, with behavior determined by environmental phenomena. Specifically, it is explained from the association between stimuli, which provoke a response in us. If we have a neutral stimulus that is associated with an appetitive or aversive stimulus, the response to the first will end up being the same as the second due to the fact that the link is generated between both stimuli. Responses are conditioned, this aspect being one of the most important for the behaviorist paradigm.

The 10 Types of Behaviorism

While behaviorism is fundamentally about observable behavior and its relationship with the environment, there are several subtypes that focus on different aspects of this relationship. Below are the ten most recognized types of behaviorism in psychology:

1. Classical Behaviorism

Classical behaviorism, or methodological behaviorism, is the traditional form of behaviorism that emerged from the work of John B. Watson. It emphasizes the idea that only observable behaviors, not mental states, should be studied scientifically. Classical behaviorists reject introspection and focus solely on behaviors that can be measured and quantified.

Key Figures: John B. Watson, Ivan Pavlov
Key Theories: Classical conditioning, behavior as a response to stimuli.

2. Radical Behaviorism

Radical behaviorism, developed by B.F. Skinner, takes a broader and more expansive view of behaviorism. It posits that all behavior, including private events such as thoughts and feelings, are the result of environmental factors. Skinner’s radical behaviorism rejects the distinction between observable and private behavior, viewing both as responses to external stimuli.

Key Figures: B.F. Skinner
Key Theories: Operant conditioning, reinforcement, behavior modification.

3. Cognitive Behaviorism

Cognitive behaviorism emerged as an integration of behaviorist ideas and cognitive psychology. It holds that environmental stimuli not only elicit a behavior, but also influence the cognitive processes that shape responses. Cognitive-behaviorists focus on how internal mental states like beliefs, thoughts, and expectations influence how people respond to external stimuli.

Key Figures: Albert Bandura, Aaron T. Beck
Key Theories: Social learning theory, cognitive restructuring, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).

4. Methodological Behaviorism

This type of behaviorism, often attributed to John B. Watson, focuses on observable behavior and rejects the study of mental processes. Methodological behaviorism asserts that psychology should be grounded in objective, observable phenomena and that subjective mental experiences are not suitable for scientific inquiry. It’s seen as the precursor to more modern behaviorism.

Key Figures: John B. Watson
Key Theories: Focus on stimuli-response associations.

5. Neobehaviorism

Neobehaviorism emerged as a response to the limitations of classical behaviorism. This theory suggests that while behavior is primarily determined by the environment, internal states, such as thoughts and physiological responses, also play a significant role. Neobehaviorists propose that while we cannot always observe internal processes, they can still be inferred from behavior.

Key Figures: Clark Hull, Edward Tolman
Key Theories: Drive theory, cognitive maps, latent learning.

6. Social Learning Theory

Social learning theory, developed by Albert Bandura, emphasizes the importance of observing and modeling the behaviors, attitudes, and emotional reactions of others. This theory integrates cognitive processes into the behaviorist framework by suggesting that behavior is learned through social interactions and observation, not just direct reinforcement.

Key Figures: Albert Bandura
Key Theories: Observational learning, vicarious reinforcement, self-regulation.

7. Functionalism

Functionalism, as a branch of behaviorism, focuses on the practical aspects of behavior and its functions in a given environment. It examines how behavior contributes to survival, adaptation, and environmental interaction. Functionalists seek to understand the underlying principles of behavior and its adaptive function, often applying behaviorist theories in real-world settings.

Key Figures: William James, John Dewey
Key Theories: Behavior as an adaptive mechanism for survival, emphasis on the relationship between environment and behavior.

8. Radical Constructivism

Radical constructivism is a variant of behaviorism that integrates the principles of constructivist learning theory with behaviorism. This approach emphasizes that behavior is the result of an individual’s active construction of knowledge based on environmental interactions. Radical constructivism rejects the notion that behaviors are purely driven by external reinforcement, arguing instead that individuals actively construct meaning from their experiences.

Key Figures: Ernst von Glasersfeld
Key Theories: Cognitive structures, active learning, environmental interaction.

9. Ecological Behaviorism

Ecological behaviorism places a heavy emphasis on the ecological context of behavior. It argues that behavior is shaped not just by direct interactions with stimuli, but by the broader environment in which those interactions occur. Ecological behaviorism often studies behavior in natural settings, such as animal behavior in the wild or human behavior in complex environments.

Key Figures: James Gibson
Key Theories: Perception-action coupling, affordances, behavior in natural environments.

10. Behavioral Psychology (Applied Behavior Analysis)

Behavioral psychology, often referred to as applied behavior analysis (ABA), focuses on using principles of behaviorism to solve real-world problems, particularly in clinical settings. ABA uses reinforcement, punishment, and other behavior modification techniques to treat a variety of conditions, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), developmental delays, and behavioral disorders.

Key Figures: B.F. Skinner, Ivar Lovaas
Key Theories: Behavior modification, reinforcement schedules, operant conditioning.

Other types of behaviorism and effect on other currents

The aforementioned are some of the main types of behaviorism that have been developed over time. But there are many others, such as Bijou’s empirical behaviorism, or philosophical, emergent or systemic behaviorisms.

In addition to this, we must take into account that the evolution of behaviorism and the overcoming of its limitations have allowed the emergence of many other theoretical models such as cognitivism and constructivism.

Key Differences Between the Types of Behaviorism

Despite all being rooted in the idea that behavior is shaped by environmental factors, the various types of behaviorism differ in their approaches and interpretations. Below are some key differences:

• Focus on Private vs. Observable Behavior: Classical behaviorism, as practiced by Watson, focused only on observable behavior, while radical behaviorism, pioneered by Skinner, includes private events (thoughts and feelings) as part of the analysis of behavior.

• Role of Cognition: Traditional behaviorism (methodological and classical) largely ignored internal cognitive processes, whereas cognitive behaviorism and social learning theory integrate cognitive functions into the behaviorist framework.

• Environmental vs. Internal Factors: While neobehaviorism and radical behaviorism emphasize the interaction of internal factors (such as physiological drives) with external stimuli, more traditional forms like classical behaviorism focus purely on external conditioning and reinforcement.

• Application: Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is a practical application of behaviorism aimed at changing maladaptive behaviors, particularly in clinical settings, whereas other forms like social learning theory or radical constructivism focus more on theory and understanding of behavior.

Behaviorism has undergone significant development since its inception, with different types emerging to address various aspects of human and animal behavior. Each of the ten types of behaviorism outlined in this article offers unique perspectives on the role of the environment in shaping behavior and the mechanisms through which behaviors are learned. Whether applied in clinical settings, educational environments, or theoretical research, behaviorism remains a foundational approach in psychology that continues to influence how we understand behavior and human interaction with the world.