Behavioral & Psychodynamic Approaches — Quick Reference

The Behavioral Approach

Focus: scientific study of observable behavioral responses and environmental determinants.
Core emphasis: observable behaviors, not thoughts or feelings.
Key figures: John B. Watson (1878-1958) and B. F. Skinner (1904-1990).
Skinner’s view (1938): psychology should study actions and behaviors; should not concern itself with thoughts, feelings, or goals.
Determinants of behavior: rewards and punishments; behavior shaped by environmental conditions.
Example: a child behaves well when rewarded by parents.
Contemporary stance: continue to emphasize observable behavior and environmental determinants; acknowledgment that some behaviorists accept cognition, unlike early strict behaviorists.

Focus: unconscious thought, conflicts between biological drives (e.g., sex) and societal demands, and early childhood experiences.
Core ideas: behavior influenced by unconscious processes and internal conflicts.
Drives: sexual and aggressive impulses play a central role in shaping behavior.
Emphasis on early experiences: family dynamics in childhood contribute to later patterns of behavior.