behaviorism

Examples of behaviorism in the following topics:

• Introduction

  • Collective behavior, a third form of action, takes place when norms are absent or unclear, or when they contradict each other.
  • Scholars have devoted far less attention to collective behavior than they have to either conformity or deviance.
  • These diverse actions fall within the area sociologists call collective behavior.
  • 1) collective behavior involves limited and short-lived social interaction while groups tend to remain together longer
  • While there is a degree of debate over what should be included under the label of "collective behavior" among sociologists today, often included are additional behaviors like: rumors, riots, trends, and fads.

• Social Context and Sexual Behavior

  • Social context influences sexual behavior; sexuality is expressed and understood through socialized processes.
  • Sexual behavior refers to the manner in which humans experience and express their sexuality.
  • Socialization necessarily implies the inculcation of norms, or behaviors that society marks as valued.
  • This is most obviously demonstrated in behaviors associated with flirtation.
  • Thus, social context is essential when one considers potentially sexual behavior.

• Sociobiology

  • Sociobiology is a field of scientific study which is based on the assumption that social behavior has resulted from evolution.
  • It attempts to explain and examine social behavior within that context.
  • Sociobiologists believe that human behavior, like nonhuman animal behavior, can be partly explained as the outcome of natural selection.
  • They contend that in order to fully understand behavior, it must be analyzed in terms of evolutionary considerations.
  • Sociobiologists reason that common behaviors likely evolved over time because they made individuals who exhibited those behaviors more likely to survive and reproduce.

• Differential Association Theory

  • Differential association is when individuals base their behaviors by association and interaction with others.
  • Criminal behavior is learned in interaction with other persons in a process of communication.
  • The principal part of the learning of criminal behavior occurs within intimate personal groups.
  • While criminal behavior is an expression of general needs and values, it is not explained by those needs and values, since non-criminal behavior is an expression of the same needs and values.
  • The process of learning criminal behavior is really not any different from the process involved in learning any other type of behavior.

• Social Change

  • Collective behavior can result in social change through the formation of cohesive social movements.
  • These diverse actions fall within the area sociologists call collective behavior.
  • While there is debate over what should be included under the label of "collective behavior" among sociologists today, often included are additional behaviors like: rumors, riots, and fads.
  • Collective behavior can actually change elements of society.
  • This is the component of collective behavior known as "social movements. "

• Effects of Group Size on Attitude and Behavior

  • Size (number of people involved) is an important characteristic of groups, organizations and communities in which social behavior occurs.
  • Individual behavior deviates substantially in a group setting; therefore, it is difficult to determine group behavior by looking solely at the individuals that comprise the group.
  • Group dynamics refers to a system of behaviors and psychological processes occurring within a social group or between social groups.
  • Individual behavior has been shown to be influenced by the presence of others.
  • Large groups introduce diversity of attitudes and behaviors.

• Deviance

  • Deviance, in a sociological context, describes actions or behaviors that violate informal social norms or formally-enacted rules.
  • The second type of deviant behavior involves violations of informal social norms (norms that have not been codified into law) and is referred to as informal deviance.
  • Cultural norms are relative, which makes deviant behavior relative as well.
  • This behavior represents a luxury, because heterosexual white males can afford to make a temporarily shift, knowing that they may subsequently return to the comforts of their prevailing socioeconomic status.
  • Other examples include performers who may affect deviant behaviors in order to gain credibility with an aim to increasing commercial profits.

• Animals and Culture

  • Animal culture refers to cultural learning in non-human animals through socially transmitted behaviors.
  • Animal culture refers to cultural learning in non-human animals through socially transmitted behaviors.
  • This process, most agree, involves the social transmission of a novel behavior, both among peers and between generations.
  • This behavior is shared by a group of animals, but not necessarily between separate groups of the same species .
  • Though the idea of culture in animals has only been around for just over half of a century, scientists have been noting social behaviors of animals for centuries.

• Crowds

  • When crowd behavior is directed toward a specific, violent end, the result is a mob.
  • Violent crowd behavior without a specific goal is a riot.
  • Collective behavior can also refer to behavior that is diffused or dispersed over large distances.
  • Second, crowd behavior is often instigated by and guided by individuals.
  • This theory takes a symbolic interactionist approach to understanding crowd behavior.

• Control Theory

  • Control theory explains that societal institutions without strong control of society can result in deviant behavior.
  • In other words, deviant behavior occurs when external controls on behavior are weak.
  • If the individual has strong social bonds with positive influences, deviant behavior is less likely than for another individual who has no family or friends.
  • According to Travis Hirschi, norms emerge to deter deviant behavior, leading to conformity and groups.
  • While control theory gives an adequate explanation of non-serious forms of youthful delinquency, it fails to explain adult criminal behavior and serious instances of youth crime.