Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Behaviorists are psychologists who believe that human behavior can be explained in terms of conditioning, without appeal to thoughts or feelings. They consider observable behaviors rather than internal mental states.
A learning process that occurs when two stimuli are repeatedly paired; a response that was initially elicited by one stimulus comes to be elicited by another associated stimulus.
A type of learning where behavior is controlled by consequences such as rewards or punishments.
Reinforcement Theory: A theory suggesting that individuals are motivated to perform certain actions because these actions have been reinforced during previous situations.