Behavioral Theories

Definition

Behavioral theories are psychological perspectives that emphasize the role of learning in explaining observable behaviors. They suggest our responses to environmental stimuli shape our actions.

Related terms

Classical Conditioning: A type of learning where an organism learns to associate two stimuli resulting in a new behavioral response; famously demonstrated by Ivan Pavlov's experiments with dogs.

Operant Conditioning: A type of learning where behavior is strengthened if followed by reinforcement or diminished if followed by punishment; B.F Skinner was its main proponent.

Social Learning Theory: Proposed by Albert Bandura, this theory suggests we learn behaviors through observation, imitation, and modeling.