Behaviorist theory

Our behaviors are reflections of our personality. Behaviorists such as Skinner and Rotter have formulated
their respective theorists of personality.

Personality and Skinner

B.F. Skinner proposed that our differences in our learning experiences are the main reason behind our
individual differences in our behavior. And we learn these patterns of behavior either directly (reward as
positive reinforcement of good behavior or punishment as a negative reinforcement of bad behavior) or
indirectly (through observational learning or modeling).

Skinner believed that it is simply human nature that we behave in such a way that we would receive
rewards or favorable things. If we want to experience reinforcement, then we should develop personality
traits that are positive, such as those attributes included in the "agreeableness" category of the Big Five
(e.g. being understanding, compassionate, empathetic, and a positive thinker). In this sense, Skinner
argued that we respond to every kind of reinforcement, and that our behavior and personality traits can
be shaped and controlled by the society. In addition to this, Skinner implied that if we want our negative
traits to be changed into positive ones, we must changed our environment first. This strict behaviorist
point of view tries to refute other psychologists belief that we must alter our inner self first (that is, our
own personality traits) before we can fully experience the change that we want.

Personality and Rotter

When Julian Rotter started developing his social learning theory, he refused to embrace the ideologies of
Freudian Psychoanalysis, which was the dominating viewpoint of the circle of psychologists during his
time. Instead, he utilized the law of effect, wherein people are being driven to pursue positive
reinforcement and to avert negative reinforcement. According to his theory, personality and behaviorism
are not connected by our physiological instincts and drives.

The main viewpoint in the social learning theory of Rotter is that personality is a representation of the
contact between the person and his environment. Therefore, his theory posits that we must consider
both the individual and his environment before having a full understanding of his behavior. In line with
this, Rotter believed that personality is a set of potentials that man uses to respond in certain
circumstances.

For Rotter, personality and behavior can always be altered. According to him, changing the environment
the individual is in and changing his way of thinking would lead to a change in his behavior, and therefore
in his personality traits also change according to that specific situation. In contrast with psychoanalytical
theories and strict behavioral theories, Rotter argues that humans do not just behave to avoid
punishment; rather, we are motivated to act by our life goals and our vision to maximize the rewards we
would receive. Now that's a more optimistic way to view personality and behavior, isn't it?

Personality and behavior are no doubt connected with each other. Our behavior provides us hints on
who we truly are, and our personality traits are given meaning by the way we behave.

Behaviorist Learning Theory

Behaviorism is an approach to psychology based on the proposition that behavior can be researched
scientifically without recourse to inner mental states. It is a form of materialism, denying any
independent significance for mind. Its significance for psychological treatment has been profound,
making it one of the pillars of pharmacological therapy.

B.F. Skinner

Ivan Pavlov

One of the assumptions of behaviorist thought is that free will is illusory, and that all behavior is
determined by the environment either through association or reinforcement.

The behaviorist school of thought ran concurrent with the psychoanalysis movement in psychology in
the 20th century. Its main influences were Ivan Pavlov, who investigated classical conditioning, John B.
Watson (1878-1958) who rejected introspective methods and sought to restrict psychology to
experimental laboratory methods. B.F. Skinner, sought to give ethical grounding to behaviorism, relating
it to pragmatism.

Within that broad approach, there are different emphases. Some behaviorists argue simply that the
observation of behavior is the best or most convenient way of investigating psychological and mental
processes. Others believe that it is in fact the only way of investigating such processes, while still others
argue that behavior itself is the only appropriate subject of psychology, and that common psychological
terms (belief, goals, etc.) have no referents and/or only refer to behavior. Those taking this point of view
sometimes refer to their field of study as behavior analysis or behavioral science rather than psychology.

Classical: The behaviorism of Watson; the objective study of behavior; no mental life, no internal states;
thought is covert speech.

Methodological: The objective study of third-person behavior; the data of psychology must be inter-
subjectively verifiable; no theoretical prescriptions. Has been absorbed into general experimental and
cognitive psychology. Two popular subtypes are Neo-: Hullian and post-Hullian, theoretical, group data,
not dynamic, physiological, and Purposive: Tolmans behavioristic anticipation of cognitive psychology.

Radical: Skinnerian behaviorism; includes behavioral approach to mental life; not mechanistic; internal
states not permitted.

Teleological: Post-Skinnerian, purposive, close to microeconomics. Theoretical: Post-Skinnerian, accepts

internal states (the skin makes a difference); dynamic, but eclectic in choice of theoretical structures,
emphasizes parsimony.

Cognitive theory

Social learning theory

Psychodynamic theory

Humanistic theory