Historical highlights from the development of behavioral theory
The behaviorist position on the relationship between animals and humans is a rather popular position among psychologists. Beginning from the 1910s and even a few decades earlier, such well-known psychologists as Watson, Dashiell and Weiss argued that there existed a close connection between the behavior of animals and human behavior (Wozniak, 1997). They stated that not taking mind into account, human behavior is very similar to animal one. However, to support the conclusions that parallels in human and animal conduct does exist, it is important to make a few assumptions about similarity between humans and animals.
The assumptions which should be made to believe that research with animals can give us information about human behavior
The idea that animal behavior studies can become a basis for making conclusions concerning human behavior requires a few assumptions which may seem outrageous for the majority of people. Firstly, an assumption should be made that humans, just as animals, are governed by strong impulses which can be also called instincts (Hunt, 2007). Secondly, human intellect which makes us unique living creatures on the Earth should be underestimated and equaled to animal instinctive wisdom. Finally, human morality and spirituality which are believed to be vital foundations of human society should be neglected because animals do not have such categories in their world.
Critical analysis of the main concepts of behaviorism
Judging on the above-mentioned assumptions, I believe that the position of behaviorists is not well-judged. Of course, some humans may be likened to animals on the reason of their degradation. Such people forget about their exalted inner qualities including intellectual potential, conscience and morality, and start serving their sinister inclinations and instincts. However, these people cannot be accepted as typical humans whose behavior concepts are followed by the majority in human society. Human conduct is far more complicated than animal one.
References
Wozniak, R. (1997). Classics in the History of Psychology. Web.
Hunt, M. (2007). The story of psychology. New York, NY: Anchor Books.