The behavioral direction in practical psychology implements the principles of behaviorism. This direction works primarily with externally visible, observable human behavior and considers a person only as an object of influence in full analogy with the natural science approach.
“Psychology from a behavioral point of view is a purely objective, experimental field of natural science, which needs introspection as little as such sciences as chemistry and physics” (Reader “General Psychology” under the general editorship of V.V. Petukhov. Vol. 1 ., M., 1997, p. 118). J. Utson. Psychology from the point of view of a behaviorist.
“In an objective study of man, the behaviorist does not observe anything that he could call consciousness, feeling, sensation, imagination, will, insofar as he no longer considers that these terms indicate genuine phenomena of psychology. He comes to the conclusion that all these terms can be excluded from the description of human activity … ”(Reader on the history of psychology, edited by P.Ya. Galperin, A.N. Zhdan. M., 1980. P. 35) J. Watson . Behaviorism.
The behavioral direction is completely in the behavioral paradigm and puts, first of all, the task of changing behavior.
Behavior change methods
The behavioral direction is based on the theories of I. P. Pavlov and B. Skinner and consists in modifying behavioral stereotypes through the use of the principles of learning theory (see →). Behavioral and emotional problems are understood as being fixed as a result of encouraging and reinforcing maladaptive responses to environmental stimuli. The task is to eliminate or modify them. A behavioral psychologist or therapist answers 4 questions:
- What behavior is the target for change and what in the observed behavior is subject to strengthening, weakening, support?
- What events supported and support this behavior?
- What changes in the environment and systematic interventions can change this behavior?
- How can once established behavior be maintained and/or extended to new situations in a limited amount of time?
Therapy in the behavioral approach
Initially, behavioral therapy used exclusively conditioning: classical (according to Pavlov) and operant. Currently, therapy in the behavioral approach is the same as in the cognitive-behavioral approach. See →
Behavioral and behavioral approach
Often the concepts of «behavioral direction» and «behavioral approach» are used as synonyms, but in current practice there is a significant difference between these approaches. See →