The Psychology Book

IN CONTEXT

APPROACH

Cognitive (“purposive”) behaviorism

BEFORE

1890s Ivan Pavlov’s experiments with dogs establish the theory of classical conditioning.

1920 John B. Watson conducts behaviorist experiments on humans, notably “Little Albert.”

AFTER

1938 B.F. Skinner’s research into operant conditioning uses pigeons in place of rats, and becomes more sophisticated.

1950s Cognitive psychology replaces behaviorism as the dominant movement in psychology.

1980s Joseph Wolpe’s behavioral therapy and Aaron Beck’s cognitive therapy merge into cognitive behavioral therapy.

Although considered one of the leading figures of US behaviorist psychology, Edward Tolman took ...