Käyttäytymisliike

Käyttäytymisliike, often translated as the "behavioral movement" or "behaviorism," refers to a significant school of thought in psychology that emerged in the early 20th century. It primarily focuses on observable behavior rather than internal mental states. Behaviorists argue that psychology should be a science of behavior, and that behavior can be understood through the principles of learning.

The core idea of behaviorism is that behavior is learned through interaction with the environment. This learning occurs through processes such as classical conditioning and operant conditioning. Classical conditioning, famously demonstrated by Ivan Pavlov, involves associating a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus to elicit a conditioned response. Operant conditioning, developed by B.F. Skinner, emphasizes the role of consequences in shaping behavior, where behaviors followed by reinforcement are more likely to be repeated, and those followed by punishment are less likely.

Key figures associated with the behavioral movement include John B. Watson, often considered the founder of behaviorism, and B.F. Skinner. Watson advocated for a strict scientific approach, emphasizing that only observable behaviors should be studied. Skinner further developed operant conditioning and applied behavioral principles to various settings, including education and therapy.

While behaviorism dominated psychology for a period, it faced criticism for neglecting cognitive processes and subjective experiences. However, its principles have had a lasting impact on fields like applied behavior analysis (ABA), animal training, and therapeutic interventions. Modern psychology often integrates behavioral principles with cognitive approaches to provide a more comprehensive understanding of human experience.