Behaviorism vs. Gestalt Psychology

Attribute	Behaviorism	Gestalt Psychology
Focus	External behavior	Perception and cognition
Methodology	Observable behavior	Insight and holistic approach
Founder	John B. Watson	Max Wertheimer
Key Concepts	Stimulus-response associations	Gestalt principles (e.g., figure-ground)
Approach	Environmental determinism	Organismic perspective

Introduction

Behaviorism and Gestalt psychology are two major schools of thought in the field of psychology. While both approaches seek to understand human behavior and cognition, they have distinct differences in their theoretical foundations and methodologies. In this article, we will compare the attributes of Behaviorism and Gestalt psychology to highlight their unique contributions to the field of psychology.

Behaviorism

Behaviorism is a school of psychology that focuses on observable behaviors and the environmental factors that influence them. Founded by John B. Watson, behaviorism rejects the study of mental processes and instead emphasizes the importance of studying behavior as a response to stimuli. Behaviorists believe that all behaviors are learned through conditioning, whether it be classical conditioning (Pavlov) or operant conditioning (Skinner).

• Focus on observable behaviors
• Emphasis on environmental factors
• Rejects the study of mental processes
• Belief that behaviors are learned through conditioning

Gestalt Psychology

Gestalt psychology, on the other hand, focuses on the holistic nature of human experience and cognition. Founded by Max Wertheimer, Gestalt psychologists believe that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. They emphasize the importance of perception and how individuals organize sensory information into meaningful patterns. Gestalt psychology also highlights the role of insight and problem-solving in human behavior.

• Focus on holistic nature of human experience
• Emphasis on perception and organization of sensory information
• Belief that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts
• Highlight the role of insight and problem-solving

Comparison

When comparing Behaviorism and Gestalt psychology, it is evident that they have contrasting views on human behavior and cognition. Behaviorism focuses on observable behaviors and the environmental factors that influence them, while Gestalt psychology emphasizes the holistic nature of human experience and cognition. Behaviorism rejects the study of mental processes, whereas Gestalt psychology highlights the importance of perception and organization of sensory information.

Furthermore, Behaviorism believes that all behaviors are learned through conditioning, whether it be classical or operant conditioning. In contrast, Gestalt psychology emphasizes the role of insight and problem-solving in human behavior, suggesting that individuals have the ability to perceive and organize information in meaningful ways.

Applications

Both Behaviorism and Gestalt psychology have had significant impacts on the field of psychology and have influenced various areas of research and practice. Behaviorism has been influential in the development of behavior therapy, which focuses on modifying maladaptive behaviors through conditioning techniques. On the other hand, Gestalt psychology has contributed to the understanding of perception, problem-solving, and creativity.

Overall, while Behaviorism and Gestalt psychology have distinct differences in their theoretical foundations and methodologies, they both offer valuable insights into human behavior and cognition. By understanding the attributes of both approaches, psychologists can gain a more comprehensive understanding of the complexities of human experience.