Synonyms

behaviorism

American

[bih-heyv-yuh-riz-uhm] / bɪˈheɪv yəˌrɪz əm /

noun

Psychology.

the theory or doctrine that human or animal psychology can be accurately studied only through the examination and analysis of objectively observable and quantifiable behavioral events, in contrast with subjective mental states.

behaviorism Cultural

A theory that psychology is essentially a study of external human behavior rather than internal consciousness and desires. (See B. F. Skinner)

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Etymology

Origin of behaviorism

First recorded in 1910–15; behavior + -ism

Vocabulary lists containing behaviorism

"How Smart Are Animals?" Vocabulary from the science article

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Psychology

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023