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    Behaviouralism

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    Zoya Fazar
    Behaviouralism was a dominant approach in political science from the 1950s-1960s that sought to study politics through empirical and quantifiable observations of political behavior. It aimed to analyze politics using the methods of natural sciences. Key assumptions included finding regularities in individual political behavior, verifying generalizations through data on behavior, and systematically collecting and quantifying data while separating empirical observations from value judgments. Critics argued it failed to address real-world problems or social change. This led to the post-behavioral approach which emphasized substance over technique, studying both regularities and irregularities, and making political science more socially relevant and oriented toward social problems and change.

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    Behaviouralism

    Uploaded by

    Zoya Fazar
    342 views4 pages
    Behaviouralism was a dominant approach in political science from the 1950s-1960s that sought to study politics through empirical and quantifiable observations of political behavior. It aimed to analyze politics using the methods of natural sciences. Key assumptions included finding regularities in individual political behavior, verifying generalizations through data on behavior, and systematically collecting and quantifying data while separating empirical observations from value judgments. Critics argued it failed to address real-world problems or social change. This led to the post-behavioral approach which emphasized substance over technique, studying both regularities and irregularities, and making political science more socially relevant and oriented toward social problems and change.

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    Behaviouralism- political science

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    Behaviouralism was a dominant approach in political science from the 1950s-1960s that sought to study politics through empirical and quantifiable observations of political behavior. It aimed to analyze politics using the methods of natural sciences. Key assumptions included finding regularities in individual political behavior, verifying generalizations through data on behavior, and systematically collecting and quantifying data while separating empirical observations from value judgments. Critics argued it failed to address real-world problems or social change. This led to the post-behavioral approach which emphasized substance over technique, studying both regularities and irregularities, and making political science more socially relevant and oriented toward social problems and change.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    342 views4 pages

    Behaviouralism

    Uploaded by

    Zoya Fazar
    Behaviouralism was a dominant approach in political science from the 1950s-1960s that sought to study politics through empirical and quantifiable observations of political behavior. It aimed to analyze politics using the methods of natural sciences. Key assumptions included finding regularities in individual political behavior, verifying generalizations through data on behavior, and systematically collecting and quantifying data while separating empirical observations from value judgments. Critics argued it failed to address real-world problems or social change. This led to the post-behavioral approach which emphasized substance over technique, studying both regularities and irregularities, and making political science more socially relevant and oriented toward social problems and change.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Behaviouralism

    • It is generally held that behaviouralism in politics is the product of Second World War
    turmoil and has been asserted that after the World War a number of political scientists
    were inclined to analyze political behaviour empirically for which they adopted advanced
    scientific methods which ultimately led to a new concept called behaviouralism.

    • Behavioralism, which was one of the dominant approaches in the 1950s and ’60s, is the
    view that the subject matter of political science should be limited to phenomena that are
    independently observable and quantifiable

    • -S. Martin Lipset, Graham Wallace, Arthur Bentley, Charles Merriam, David Easton,
    Gabriel Almond, Harold Lasswell and many others

    • Behavioural approach to politics denotes that it is an attempt to improve understanding of


    politics by empirical aspects of political life by means of methods, theories and criteria of
    proof that are acceptable according to assumption of modern empirical science.

    • “It is a movement in political science which insists on analyzing only observable


    behaviour of political actors”.

    • For many behavioralists, only quantified studies could be considered political science in
    the strict sense; they often contrasted their studies with those of the so-called
    traditionalists, who attempted to explain politics by using unquantifiable descriptions,
    anecdotes, historical analogies, ideologies, and philosophy.

    Credo of Behaviouralism:

    • Behaviouralism as a protest movement revolutionized the thought system of political


    science. These intellectual foundation-stones are called credo. The credo can also be
    described as assumptions of behaviouralism.

    According to David Easton, there are eight assumptions:

    • 1. Regularities:

    • It means that observable uniformities have been found in behaviour of individuals.


    Though individuals behave differently under different circumstances, uniformities can be
    discovered in their political behaviour. People uniformly react to circumstances. The
    consequence is certain general conclusions can be framed on the basis of uniform
    observable behaviour.

    • 2. Verification:
    • Second assumption is that generalizations can be verified in reference to the behaviour.
    Political behaviouralists collect data and facts about individuals’ political behaviour and
    then test the conclusion drawn by them or other Behaviouralists.

    • 3. Techniques:

    • The behaviouralists collect and interpret data not in a haphazard way or indiscriminately
    but in a methodological and scientific way that is by adopting improved techniques
    borrowing from other sciences. In other words, the behaviouralists do not take any data or
    fact as granted. They adopt cautious steps so that any mistake or misconceptions cannot
    crop up.

    • 4. Quantification:

    • Data and facts are processed in a scientific way. But in the entire process everything is
    measured and quantified.

    • 5. Values:

    • In analyzing political behaviour and collecting data behaviouralists cautiously proceed.


    They observe that empirical judgment and value judgment are not mixed together. In
    earlier days, political behaviour was associated with normative judgment—that is,
    everything was judged in the perspective of values and norms.

    • But Easton observes that these two approaches are quite distinct and the distinction must
    be maintained. Otherwise, political analysis of individuals’ behaviour will not be able to
    face the proper test.

    • 6. Systematisation:

    • The researcher of political behaviour must proceed in his analysis quite systematically
    which means that the purpose of research is to arrive at truth or to build up general
    principles. From the beginning to the end the behaviouralists shall proceed orderly or
    systematically. The failure of the researcher to be systematic will put him in. Collection
    of data and facts, research, analysis, building up conclusions and everything else are
    closely related. This is systematization.

    • 7. Pure Science:

    • The behaviouralists claim that their approach as well as conclusions is based on the
    principles of pure science. Even their research conforms to the basic principles of pure
    science. In every step they adopt the methods and techniques of pure science. Naturally,
    they attach great importance to research and to the conclusions built up by them. The
    behaviouralists claim that their dependence on pure science has enhanced the
    acceptability and prestige of their conclusions.
    • 8.Integration: Integration of other disciplines-cannot be separated from economics,
    sociology, psychology, anthropology etc.

    • Criticisms

    Post-Behavioural Approach

    • The Post-Behavioural Approach is such an approach which developed after witnessing


    the loopholes of Behavioral Approach. Considering the popularity in 1940’s, Behavioural
    Approach has been one of the most important approaches to Political Science. But in
    1970’s, there was general dissatisfaction with the achievements of behaviouralist as it
    failed to solve practical problems of the society and it led to the emergence of the post-
    Behavioural Approach. The failure of the Behavioural Approach to make any real
    progress towards the objective of building a scientific political theory compelled the
    behaviouralists to admit reforms in Behavioural Approach and that result in Post-
    Behavioural Approach. David Easton, who at one time was a Behaviouralist, criticized it
    for its limitations in later course. Thus, the Post- Behavioural Approach complains that
    the Behavioural Approach had not taken into account serious social matters.

    • Post- Behavioural Approach is both a movement and academic tendency. It opposed the
    efforts of the Behavioural Approach to make Political science a value free science. The
    Post- Behavioural Approach is a future oriented approach which wants to solve problems
    of both present and future. To this approach, the study of Political Science should put
    importance on social change. To it political science must have some relevance to society.
    Along with relevance, this approach believes that action is the core of study political
    science. It accepts that political science needs to study all realities of politics, social
    change, values etc.

    • There are some basic characteristics of Post- Behavioural Approach.

    • Importance on action and relevance,

    • human problem oriented,

    • qualitative and quantitative

    • concerned with regularities and irregularities

    David Easton opined that -

    • substance must have precedence over technique,

    • political science should put emphasis on social change, (not just social preservation)
    • research in social science must not lose touch with reality,

    • study should accord value also,

    • study should also be future oriented etc

    To him mad craze for scientism should be discarded as social science can’t be pure
    science at any cost. Therefore, we can say that Post- Behavioural Approach lays
    emphasis on substance than technique. It is an attempt to develop a practical, social
    change oriented approach to political science. Actually, the Post- Behavioural Approach
    refines the Behavioural Approach and tries to make it acceptable.

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