Cognitive psychology and behaviorism are two prominent schools of thought in psychology. While they share some similarities, they have distinct differences in their approach to understanding human behavior and mental processes. In this article, we will explore the differences between cognitive psychology and behaviorism.
What is Behaviorism?
Behaviorism is a psychological approach that emphasizes the study of observable behaviors instead of internal mental processes. It suggests that all behavior is learned through interactions with the environment. Behaviorists believe that human behavior is shaped by rewards and punishments, which serve as stimuli for learning.
Behaviorism was popularized by John B. Watson, who believed that psychology should only focus on observable behaviors instead of subjective mental processes. He emphasized the importance of conditioning, which refers to the process of learning through association.
What is Cognitive Psychology?
Cognitive psychology, on the other hand, focuses on internal mental processes such as perception, memory, thinking, and problem-solving. It suggests that human behavior is influenced by how people perceive and interpret information from their environment.
Cognitive psychology emerged as a response to behaviorism’s limitations in explaining complex human behaviors such as language acquisition and creativity. Cognitive psychologists use experimental methods to study mental processes such as attention, perception, memory retrieval, and decision-making.
Differences between Behaviorism and Cognitive Psychology
The main difference between Behaviorism and Cognitive Psychology lies in their approach to studying human behavior. Behaviorists focus on observable behaviors while cognitive psychologists study internal mental processes that cannot be directly observed.
Behaviorists suggest that all human behavior is learned through interactions with the environment while cognitive psychologists believe that people actively process information from their surroundings before responding.
Another significant difference between these two approaches is their emphasis on rewards and punishments. Behaviorists argue that rewards and punishments shape human behavior while cognitive psychologists suggest that people’s perception of rewards or punishments affects how they respond to a given situation.
Similarities between Behaviorism and Cognitive Psychology
Despite their differences, Behaviorism and Cognitive Psychology share some similarities. Both approaches use experimental methods to study human behavior and mental processes. Also, both approaches have contributed significantly to the development of modern psychology.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Behaviorism and Cognitive Psychology are two different approaches that have influenced our understanding of human behavior and mental processes in psychology. While they share some similarities, they differ in their approach to studying human behavior and the emphasis they place on observable behaviors versus internal mental processes. Understanding these differences is crucial for students of psychology to gain a complete picture of the field.