Behavioural Theories

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Behavioural theories and the impact on human interactions:A Compilation of articles, essays and discoursesAround the World

Hector Chapa Sikazwe2009, Newcastle Upon Tyne

Keywords

Behaviourism, modelling, Cognitive, constructive behaviour, Psychology, Psychoanalysis,Personality, classical conditioning, Stimuli

Disclaimer

This compilation is the work of original behaviourist theorists with no alterations made totheir original work. The author was compelled to collect and compile the articles to findmeaning and purpose in what he sees being orchestrated not only in his life, but in the life of those around him. This work is attributed to the original authors and any queries should bedirected to the original authors.

Table of Contents

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1.0 Introduction

The Behaviourist's theory is another attempt to explain human personality. It is in conflictwith the Psychoanalytic and the Humanistic theory in several important ways. Mostimportant of these are the ways in which each claims how human personality is formed. TheBehaviourist in particular believes that cultural and sub-cultural conditioning moulds andshapes behaviour and subsequently the personality. The unconscious is of little concern to thebehaviourist. A human being, according to the behaviourist, has his life determined for himsince he is a product of the culture that causes him to be as he is. The theory, therefore, isvery deterministic.The Psychoanalytic and the Humanistic theories are much less so. Therapy in theBehaviourist model bases on the principles of learning, with all of learning's processes ormethods: conditioning, reinforcing (rewards, denials, and punishment), desensitization,aversion therapy, modelling, imitation, etc. Considering this theory's attitude toward thedenial of a person's free will (humanism's point of view-and to a lesser degree thePsychoanalytic), we get an idea how little the theory is concerned with any outside energy orforce -- any that has an effect on human behaviour. This aspect of humankind is simplyignored or is considered non-existent. Simply, to the behaviourist, normal behaviour resultsfrom acceptable conditioning, reinforcing, modelling, etc. Abnormal behaviour results fromdefective conditioning, reinforcing, modelling, etc.The behaviourist isn't interested in what developmental processes may have influenced aperson's behaviour. In treating the patient, the behaviourist has little regard for the patient'sfeelings, thoughts, emotional experiences or imagination. He feels that if the patient is taughtto understand his environment and how he interacts with it, he will automatically understandhimself and his behaviour. The behaviourist functions from the position that if a neuroticbehaviour can be learned, it can be unlearned. The techniques that are used are conditioning,desensitizing, assertive training, aversion therapy, etc. -- all quite commonly used in schoolsand many clinics (unfortunately!)Despite the tremendous differences among behaviourism, the psychoanalytic and thehumanistic approaches to understanding and explaining human personality, one characteristicis outstandingly the same: None of them are concerned with any energy or support systemoutside the patient -- his "self." Actually all are

closed system

therapies. None consider