Behaviorism Psychology vs. Cognitive Psychology: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Published on February 14, 2024
Behaviorism Psychology studies observable behavior and its environmental determinants; Cognitive Psychology explores internal mental processes.
Key Differences
Behaviorism Psychology focuses on observable behaviors and their relationship with the environment, emphasizing external stimuli and responses. Cognitive Psychology, conversely, delves into the internal mental processes like memory, perception, and problem-solving.
Shumaila Saeed
Feb 14, 2024
The approach of Behaviorism Psychology is more empirical, relying on measurable and observable data. In contrast, Cognitive Psychology employs theoretical models to understand mental processes, which are not directly observable.
Shumaila Saeed
Feb 14, 2024
Behaviorism Psychology largely ignores internal mental states, considering them irrelevant for understanding behavior. Cognitive Psychology, however, centers on these internal states, seeking to understand how they influence behavior.
Shumaila Saeed
Feb 14, 2024
Key figures in Behaviorism Psychology include B.F. Skinner and John Watson, who emphasized conditioning and stimuli-response relationships. Cognitive Psychology’s notable contributors, like Jean Piaget and Ulric Neisser, focused on cognitive development and information processing.
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Feb 14, 2024
Behaviorism Psychology has been influential in areas like classical and operant conditioning, shaping practices in education and therapy. Cognitive Psychology has significantly impacted understanding of learning, memory, and cognitive disorders.
Shumaila Saeed
Feb 14, 2024
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Comparison Chart
Applications
Conditioning, behavior modification
Learning, memory, cognitive therapies
Shumaila Saeed
Feb 14, 2024
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Behaviorism Psychology and Cognitive Psychology Definitions
Behaviorism Psychology
Applies empirical methods to study behavior.
Behaviorism Psychology uses controlled experiments to observe behavioral changes.
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Jan 22, 2024
Cognitive Psychology
Focuses on internal processes like memory and perception.
In Cognitive Psychology, memory disorders are studied to understand memory function.
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Jan 22, 2024
Behaviorism Psychology
Emphasizes the environmental impact on behavior.
In Behaviorism Psychology, a child's behavior is often attributed to their upbringing.
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Jan 22, 2024
Cognitive Psychology
Employs theoretical models for mental processes.
Cognitive Psychology uses models to represent how information processing occurs in the brain.
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Jan 22, 2024
Behaviorism Psychology
A branch of psychology focusing on observable behaviors.
Behaviorism Psychology studies how positive reinforcement can modify behavior.
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Jan 22, 2024
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Cognitive Psychology
A branch of psychology that studies mental processes.
Cognitive Psychology examines how we process information from our environment.
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Jan 22, 2024
Behaviorism Psychology
Ignores or minimizes internal mental states.
Behaviorism Psychology focuses less on what people think and more on what they do.
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Jan 22, 2024
Cognitive Psychology
Investigates problem-solving and decision-making.
Cognitive Psychology explores how people make choices under different conditions.
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Jan 22, 2024
Behaviorism Psychology
Utilizes conditioning to understand behavior.
Behaviorism Psychology explains phobias through the principles of classical conditioning.
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Jan 22, 2024
Cognitive Psychology
Influences cognitive therapy and educational strategies.
Cognitive Psychology contributes to developing strategies for learning disabilities.
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Jan 22, 2024
Repeatedly Asked Queries
How does Behaviorism Psychology view learning?
Learning is viewed as a change in behavior due to environmental interactions.
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Feb 14, 2024
How does Cognitive Psychology view mental processes?
It views mental processes as crucial to understanding behavior.
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Feb 14, 2024
What role does memory play in Cognitive Psychology?
Memory is a key area of study in Cognitive Psychology, essential for understanding how information is processed and stored.
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Feb 14, 2024
Can Behaviorism Psychology explain emotions?
Behaviorism mainly focuses on observable behavior, not internal emotional states.
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Feb 14, 2024
What does Behaviorism Psychology mainly study?
It studies observable behaviors and their relationship with the environment.
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Feb 14, 2024
How has Cognitive Psychology impacted education?
It has influenced teaching methods and learning strategies based on cognitive processes.
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Feb 14, 2024
What is the main focus of cognitive psychologists when studying behavior?
Cognitive psychologists study how internal mental processes influence behavior.
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Feb 14, 2024
Does Behaviorism Psychology consider genetics?
Behaviorism typically emphasizes environmental factors over genetics.
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Feb 14, 2024
What is the role of memory in Cognitive Psychology?
Memory is a central topic in Cognitive Psychology, examining how information is stored, retrieved, and processed.
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Feb 14, 2024
Can Cognitive Psychology explain emotions and motivation?
Yes, Cognitive Psychology explores how cognitive processes influence emotions and motivation.
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Feb 14, 2024
What are the limitations of Cognitive Psychology?
Cognitive Psychology may not account for all aspects of human behavior, and it tends to focus on individual processes, sometimes overlooking social and cultural factors.
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Feb 14, 2024
What are some key concepts in Behaviorism besides conditioning?
Stimulus-response associations, reinforcement, and environmental determinism are key concepts in Behaviorism.
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Feb 14, 2024
Is Cognitive Psychology involved in treating mental disorders?
Yes, it contributes to cognitive-behavioral therapies for mental disorders.
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Feb 14, 2024
Is Cognitive Psychology relevant in clinical psychology?
Yes, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an example of applying cognitive principles to treat mental health issues.
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Feb 14, 2024
What are some key concepts in Cognitive Psychology?
Cognitive processes, information processing, schemas, and mental representations are key concepts in Cognitive Psychology.
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Feb 14, 2024
Can Behaviorism explain complex human behaviors?
Behaviorism is limited in explaining complex cognitive processes and emotions.
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Feb 14, 2024
What are some practical applications of Behaviorism?
Behaviorism has been applied in fields like education, animal training, and behavior modification.
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Feb 14, 2024
How does Cognitive Psychology contribute to problem-solving and decision-making?
Cognitive Psychology provides insights into how people think, make decisions, and solve problems effectively.
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Feb 14, 2024
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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