behaviorism

noun

be·hav·ior·ism bi-ˈhā-vyə-ˌri-zəm

bē-

: a school of psychology that takes the objective evidence of behavior (such as measured responses to stimuli) as the only concern of its research and the only basis of its theory without reference to conscious experience compare introspectionism

behavioristic

bi-ˌhā-vyə-ˈri-stik

bē-

adjective

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web By contrast, strict behaviorism (say) questions the foundations of the whole of psychology. —

Neuroskeptic, Discover Magazine, 19 Apr. 2015 Psychology has had, and continues to have, plenty of them: behaviorism, cognitivism, Freudianism, social constructionism, to name a few. —

Neuroskeptic, Discover Magazine, 19 Apr. 2015 Employee of the month programs are typically attributed to psychologist B.F. Skinner and his concept of behaviorism. —

Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 13 Feb. 2022 Going beyond behaviorism, Sherwin-Williams’s decision to opt for this blushing hue is especially on point with our current moment. —

Rachel Silva, ELLE Decor, 20 Sep. 2022 It is based on theories of behaviorism and operant conditioning, and is known as the gold standard by many in the caregiver and professional community. —

Ariana Cernius, Fortune, 13 May 2022 Mental imagery, as a research topic, was considered taboo in the second half of the 20th century because of behaviorism, which rejected introspection as a way to understand behavior. —

Nayantara Dutta, Time, 8 Mar. 2022 The concept of behaviorism persists in traditional grading; everything students do is rewarded or punished with points. —

Laura Newberry, Los Angeles Times, 8 Nov. 2021 In contrast to behaviorism, which asserts that animal behavior can be explained in terms of incentives, rewards, and punishments, ethology posits that animals are innately intelligent, rather than simply programmable. —

Lauren Markham, Harper's Magazine, 16 Mar. 2021 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'behaviorism.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

1913, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of behaviorism was in 1913

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Behaviorism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/behaviorism. Accessed 22 Mar. 2023.

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Medical Definition

behaviorism

noun

be·hav·ior·ism

variants or chiefly British behaviourism

bi-ˈhā-vyə-ˌriz-əm

: a school of psychology that takes the objective evidence of behavior (as measured responses to stimuli) as the only concern of its research and the only basis of its theory without reference to conscious experience compare cognitive psychology

behavioristic adjective

or chiefly British behaviouristic

-ˌhā-vyə-ˈris-tik