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Behaviorism  as a movement in psychology appeared in 1913 when John Broadus Watson published the classic article 'Psychology as the behaviorist views it'. John Watson proposed that the process of classical conditioning (based on Pavlov’s observations) was able to explain all aspects of human psychology. Everything from speech to emotional responses were simply patterns of stimulus and response. Watson denied completely the existence of the mind or consciousness. Watson believed that all individual differences in behavior were due to different experiences of learning. He famously said: Give me a dozen healthy infants, well-formed, and my own specified world to bring them up in and I'll guarantee to take any one at random and train him to become any type of specialist I might select - doctor, lawyer, artist, merchant-chief and, yes, even beggar-man and thief, regardless of his talents, penchants, tendencies, abilities, vocations and the race of his ancestors”. (Watso...

Behaviorist Approach Behaviorism (also called the behavioral approach) was the primary paradigm in psychology between 1920s to 1950 and is based on a number of underlying assumptions regarding methodology and behavioral analysis: * Psychology should be seen as a science.  Theories need to be supported by empirical data obtained through careful and controlled observation and measurement of behavior. Watson stated that “ psychology as a behaviorist views it is a purely objective experimental branch of natural science. Its theoretical goal is … prediction and control ” (1913, p. 158). * Behaviorism is primarily concerned with observable behavior, as opposed to internal events like thinking and emotion.  Observable (i.e. external) behavior can be objectively and scientifically measured. Internal events, such as thinking should be explained through behavioral terms (or eliminated altogether). * People have no free will – a person’s environment determines their behavior * W...

Self-esteem should be viewed as a continuum, and can be high, medium or low, and is often quantified as a number in empirical research. When considering self-esteem it is important to note that both high and low levels can be emotionally and socially harmful for the individual. Indeed it is thought an optimum level of self-esteem lies in the middle of the continuum. Individuals operating within this range are thought to be more socially dominant within relationships. Empirical Research Research has shown key differences between individuals with high and low self-esteem . For example, people with high self-esteem focus on growth and improvement, whereas people with low self-esteem focus on not making mistakes in life. Low self-esteem has been shown to be correlated with a number of negative outcomes, such as depression (Silverstone and Salsali, 2003). Rosenberg and Owen (2001) offer the following description of low self-esteem people based on emp...

The term self-concept is a general term used to refer to how someone thinks about or perceives themselves. The self concept is how we think about and evaluate ourselves. To be aware of oneself is to have a concept of oneself. Baumeister (1999) provides the following self concept definition: " the individual's belief about himself or herself, including the person's attributes and who and what the self is" . Self Concept is an important term for both social psychology and humanism . Lewis (1990) suggests that development of a concept of self has two aspects: - (1) The Existential Self This is the most basic part of the self-scheme or self-concept; the sense of being separate and distinct from others and the awareness of the constancy of the self” (Bee 1992). The child realizes that they exist as a separate entity from others and that they continue to exist over time and space. According to Lewis ...

  Carl Rogers Carl Rogers (1902-1987) was a humanistic psychologist who agreed with the main assumptions of Abraham Maslow , but added that for a person to "grow", they need an environment that provides them with genuineness (openness and self-disclosure), acceptance (being seen with unconditional positive regard), and empathy (being listened to and understood). Without these, relationships and healthy personalities will not develop as they should, much like a tree will not grow without sunlight and water. Rogers believed that every person can achieve their goals, wishes and desires in life. When, or rather if they did so, self actualization took place.  This was one of Carl Rogers most important contributions to psychology and for a person to reach their potential a number of factors must be satisfied. Self Actualization ...

The Faces and Minds of Psychological Science These distinguished researchers are leaders in the exciting field of psychological science. Using the latest methods and technologies, they have made enormous strides in exploring the complexities of human behavior in all of its forms, from the most basic brain research to applications in health, education, business, and social issues. Psychological science covers the full spectrum of behavior, from the fundamental brain processes involved in how we think, learn, and remember, to the way that people function in groups and organizations, and everything in between. What unites these diverse efforts is a commitment to scientific rigor and to the advancement of the public well-being through science-based understanding of the human condition. People Perception Nalini Ambady Tufts University Spontaneous social judgments affect our assumptions about the people around us. Nalini Ambady investigate...