Radical behaviorism, developed by B.F. Skinner, takes a distinct perspective on psychology compared to other schools of thought. Here are its key features:

• Focus on Observable Behavior: Unlike traditional psychology that explored internal mental states, radical behaviorism solely focuses on observable behaviors. This includes actions, emotions expressed through physical reactions, and even private thoughts verbalized or written down.
• Behavior is Shaped by the Environment: Radical behaviorism emphasizes the role of the environment in shaping behavior. Our environment consists of everything that surrounds us, including people, situations, and consequences of our actions. Through a process called operant conditioning, the environment reinforces or punishes behaviors, influencing their frequency and form.
• Operant Conditioning: This is the core principle of radical behaviorism. It explains how the consequences of our actions influence our likelihood of repeating those actions.
  • Positive Reinforcement: When a behavior is followed by a pleasant consequence (reinforcer), the likelihood of that behavior happening again increases. For example, praising a child for cleaning their room increases the chances of them cleaning again in the future.
  • Negative Reinforcement: When an unpleasant consequence is removed because of a behavior, the likelihood of that behavior happening again increases. For example, if a child whines to get candy and you give in to stop the whining, they are more likely to whine in the future to get what they want.
  • Punishment: When a consequence discourages a behavior, it becomes less likely to happen again. Punishment can be removing a desired outcome (taking away phone privileges) or adding an unpleasant outcome (time-out).
  • Extinction: When a behavior is no longer reinforced, it gradually weakens and disappears. For example, if a child throws a tantrum and you used to give them attention in response, but now you ignore the tantrum, the tantrums will likely become less frequent over time.
• Thoughts and Feelings as Behaviors: Radical behaviorism views thoughts and feelings as internal behaviors influenced by the environment. For instance, feeling anxious might be a response to an upcoming exam (environmental cue).
• Free Will vs. Determinism: Radical behaviorism leans towards determinism, suggesting our behaviors are a result of our environmental history and not entirely free will.

Overall, radical behaviorism offers a unique lens for understanding psychology by focusing solely on observable behaviors and how they are shaped by the environment through operant conditioning.