Humanism vs Behaviorism
Humanism and behaviorism represent significant schools within the field of psychology. Each approach offers a unique perspective on the human mind and behavior. Behaviorism is concerned with external human behavior and disregards unobservable mental processes. In contrast, humanism examines the individual as a whole. The main difference between these two schools of thought lies in the shift of focus from external behavior to the entire being. This article will discuss these two approaches and highlight their differences.
Key Takeaways
- Behaviorism focuses on the external behavior of individuals, while humanism focuses on the individual as a whole.
- Behaviorism has a scientific basis and uses experimentation to understand behavior, whereas humanism is more subjective and does not have a scientific basis.
- Humanism goes beyond behavior and also focuses on human emotions, rejecting the behaviorists’ assumption of determinism and embracing the idea of free will.
What is Behaviorism?
Behaviorism emerged in the 1920s, with Ivan Pavlov, John B. Watson, and B.F Skinner as some of the prominent figures responsible for its growth. It focused on the external behavior of individuals and disregarded the significance of the mind since it couldn’t be observed. Behaviorists believed that behavior was objective, observable, and a response of an organism to stimuli, which contributed to the understanding of human psychology. Behaviorism emphasized laboratory research and was based on the main assumptions of determinism, experimentalism, optimism, anti-mentalism, and the idea of nurture over nature.
Notable theories within behaviorism include Pavlov’s classical conditioning and Skinner’s operant conditioning. Classical conditioning explains that some learning occurs due to involuntary emotional and psychological responses, while operant conditioning involves conditioning voluntary, controllable behaviors. Behaviorists argue that human behavior is learned and can be changed through reinforcement and punishment.
What is Humanism?
In contrast to behaviorism, humanism adopts a different approach to psychology, looking at the individual as a whole. Humanists believe that all humans are unique and free agents with the ability to achieve their innate potential to the fullest. They prefer to adopt the perspective of the person within a situation rather than the observer’s point of view. In counseling, this is referred to as empathy.
Prominent figures in humanism include Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow, who made significant contributions to its development. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs presents an image of the individual as having the ability to reach a level of self-actualization, the highest form an individual can achieve. However, to attain this, humans must acquire certain needs, such as biological needs, safety needs, love and belonging needs, self-esteem needs, and ultimately, self-actualization. Another significant theory is Carl Rogers’ person-centered theory, which is used in counseling. It presents an image of the individual as an innately positive person, with a concept of self comprised of the individual’s real self and ideal self. Rogers believes that when these two selves are close to one another and congruent, it creates a positive condition for self-development.
What is the difference between Humanism and Behaviorism?
• Behaviorism focuses on the external behavior of individuals, while humanism focuses on the individual as a whole.
• Behaviorism has a scientific basis and uses experimentation as a means of understanding behavior.
• Humanism is more subjective and does not have a scientific basis as behaviorism.
• Humanism goes beyond behavior and also focuses on the emotions of human beings.
• Humanism rejects the behaviorists’ assumption of determinism and believes that humans are agents of free will.
