Behaviorism vs. Structuralism

Attribute	Behaviorism	Structuralism
Founder	John B. Watson	Edward B. Titchener
Focus	Observable behavior	Conscious experience
Methodology	Experimental methods	Introspection
Key Concepts	Stimulus-response associations	Elements of consciousness
Approach	Empirical	Structural

Introduction

Behaviorism and structuralism are two important schools of thought in psychology that have significantly influenced the field. While they both aim to understand human behavior and mental processes, they have distinct approaches and methodologies. In this article, we will compare the attributes of behaviorism and structuralism to highlight their differences and similarities.

Behaviorism

Behaviorism is a school of psychology that focuses on observable behaviors rather than internal mental processes. It was founded by John B. Watson in the early 20th century and became a dominant force in psychology for several decades. Behaviorists believe that behavior is learned through interactions with the environment and that it can be studied objectively through experimentation.

• Focuses on observable behaviors
• Emphasizes learning through interactions with the environment
• Founded by John B. Watson
• Believes behavior can be studied objectively through experimentation

Structuralism

Structuralism, on the other hand, is a school of psychology that focuses on the structure of the mind and the elements of consciousness. It was founded by Wilhelm Wundt in the late 19th century and was one of the earliest schools of psychology. Structuralists believe that the mind can be broken down into basic elements that can be studied through introspection.

• Focuses on the structure of the mind
• Founded by Wilhelm Wundt
• Believes in studying the elements of consciousness through introspection
• One of the earliest schools of psychology

Approach to Studying Behavior

Behaviorism and structuralism have different approaches to studying behavior. Behaviorism focuses on observable behaviors and believes that behavior is a result of conditioning and learning. Behaviorists use experiments and controlled observations to study behavior and emphasize the importance of environmental influences.

On the other hand, structuralism focuses on the structure of the mind and believes that consciousness can be broken down into basic elements. Structuralists use introspection, or self-observation, to study the elements of consciousness and understand how they are organized.

View on Mental Processes

Behaviorism and structuralism also differ in their views on mental processes. Behaviorism rejects the study of internal mental processes and focuses solely on observable behaviors. Behaviorists believe that behavior can be explained by conditioning and learning principles without the need to delve into the complexities of the mind.

Structuralism, on the other hand, is interested in understanding the structure of the mind and the elements of consciousness. Structuralists believe that by studying the basic elements of consciousness, they can gain insight into how the mind works and how thoughts and feelings are organized.

Impact on Psychology

Both behaviorism and structuralism have had a significant impact on the field of psychology. Behaviorism revolutionized the way psychologists study behavior by emphasizing the importance of observable behaviors and the role of conditioning in learning. Behaviorism also paved the way for the development of behavior therapy and other practical applications in psychology.

Structuralism, on the other hand, laid the foundation for the study of consciousness and the structure of the mind. While structuralism itself did not survive as a dominant school of thought, its emphasis on introspection and the study of mental processes influenced later schools of psychology, such as functionalism and cognitive psychology.

Conclusion

In conclusion, behaviorism and structuralism are two important schools of thought in psychology that have shaped the field in significant ways. While behaviorism focuses on observable behaviors and learning through interactions with the environment, structuralism emphasizes the structure of the mind and the elements of consciousness. Both schools have contributed valuable insights to the study of human behavior and mental processes, and their influence can still be seen in modern psychology.