Behavioral Psychology
Every day, our decisions—from how we brush our teeth to how we respond to stress—are influenced by patterns of behavior learned over time. Behavioral psychology dives into how these behaviors develop, how they’re reinforced, and how they can be changed.
Understanding behavior helps improve mental health treatments, shape effective learning environments, and even design better public policies. Behavioral psychology remains one of the most impactful and practical branches of psychological science.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is behavioral psychology outdated?
How does behavioral psychology differ from cognitive psychology?
Can behavioral psychology help with mental health problems?
Why is reinforcement important in behavioral psychology?
KEY TERMS
Classical Conditioning
Operant Conditioning
B.F. Skinner introduced operant conditioning, where behavior is shaped by consequences:
Positive reinforcement: Adding something desirable to increase behavior
Negative reinforcement: Removing something unpleasant to increase behavior
Punishment: Adding or removing stimuli to decrease behavior
Observational Learning
Albert Bandura expanded behaviorism through observational learning—learning by watching others.
Key findings:
Children imitate models, especially if rewarded (Bandura et al., 1961).
Behavior doesn’t always require direct reinforcement.