1. Fields of Modern Psychology


1. The Behaviorist Approach


2. The Biological Approach


3. The Cognitive Approach


4. The Psychoanalytic Approach


5. The Humanistic Approach


6. The Multicultural Approach


2. Glossary


3. Online Quiz


4. Other Psychology Resources


5. Find a Psychologist


6. Java Eliza

The contemporary form of behaviorism still closely follows the teachings of John Watson. The behaviorist approach emphasizes the importance of environmental determinants in shaping behavior. Heredity is not denied by behaviorists; they argue that since heredity cannot be changed, we must try to alter the environment to create behaviors. Behaviorism emphasizes the study of learning and the conditions that dictate when learning occurs. By changing the environment and its associated stimuli, it is possible to profoundly change an organism's behavior.

Behaviorists stress the importance of dealing with behaviors that are directly observable. They argue that by understanding what the effects of the presence or absence of external stimuli are on instances of behavior, it is possible to completely explain behavior. The most prominent modern behaviorist have followed the path of B. F. Skinner (1904-1990), who stressed that all behavior is determined by its consequences. This means that responses are determined by what events will follow a particular response.