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Behaviouralism
Eamonn McConnon
LG601 Political and IR Theory
8/11/2010
Behaviouralism
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Sought to move away from historical analysis
and “thick description”
A more rigorous approach to political
research based on the natural sciences
Focused on “behaviours” that could be
measured
It presupposed that the social world is
governed by laws of behaviour and action
just as the physical world is.
Robert Dahl (1961) “The
Behavioural Approach in Political
Science”
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The term “behaviouralism” is ambiguous and
hard to define
Will ultimately be subsumed into the
mainstream of political research
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Dahl outlines 6 factors that led to the development of
Behaviouralism in the US
The appointment of Charles E. Merriam as head of the
Department of Political Science at the University of Chicago and
influence of the “Chicago School”.
The influx of European scholars in the 1930’s, brought with
them a sociological and psychological approach to the study of
politics.
World War II and the overriding need to engage in political
realities
Social Science Research Council setting up the Committee on
Political Behaviour in the mid-1940’s. Sought to study the
behaviour of individuals in a scientific way, formulating and
testing hypotheses on the uniformity of behaviour
The use of the survey method as a tool to study the behaviour
of voters. Gave direct access to characteristics and behaviour
of individuals.
Funding from philanthropic foundations: Carnegie, Rockefeller,
Ford
What is the Behavioural
approach?
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Is Behaviouralism a distinctive approach in itself or is it just a
reaction to dissatisfaction with conventional political science?
Yes - Behaviouralism studies individuals rather than larger
political units.
No – Alfred de Grazia editor of PROD, denies that the term refers
to a subject matter, interdisciplinary focus, new methods, a
quantitative focus, empiricism, realism or voting behaviour.
Only refers to “political science as people might like it to be” and
the term should be dropped.
Maybe? – David Truman (1951) says it should not be seen as a
“field” in itself but an attempt to reform and rework the current
political field with systematic and empirical research.
Therefore Dahl calls it a “mood” or “scientific outlook” rather than
a discipline.
The positives of Behaviouralism
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In two decades (up to mid-1960’s) it altered the
understanding of voter behaviour
The studies have become progressively more
comprehensive in that time – shows that the method
is developing
Increased the understanding of homo politicus –
attitudes, beliefs, predispositions, personality factors
Involves cross over of study between disciplines
Prevented political science becoming isolated from
other disciplines
The weaknesses of
Behaviouralism
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Too soon to tell if it can improve our understanding
about how the decisions of individuals impact on
political systems
Treats values as empirical data and avoids moral
judgements or prescription
It is weak at drawing upon historical examples.
The scientific outlook can only test small cases and
is therefore cautious in making broad explanatory
theories. Runs the risk of only producing trivial
results.
Morton A. Kaplan (1966) “The
New Great Debate”
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Defends the scientific approach against the
criticisms of the traditionalist approach
Aims to show how the traditionalist
arguments have confused the most important
issues
Intuition
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The relationship between science and intuition has been
misrepresented
Cases are cited where a scientists results are correct because of
intuitive understanding but the reasons given in support of their
theory are incorrect.
But communicable knowledge can be tested and replicated
Therefore the difference is not between the physical and human
world but between subject matters of theoretical knowledge and
warranted belief or precision
Intuition is also a product of previous study and knowledge – eg.
Einstein drawing on non-Euclidean geometrics and Lorentz
transformation.
 Newton could not have had the same intuition as Einstein
Motivation
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Traditionalists: motives are better observed through introspection
than scientific methods
Kaplan: tools of scientific method are invaluable to assess
hypotheses regarding motivation
But group, social or political behaviour does not result directly
from individual motivations. Too many variations in group
dynamics to isolate the role of individual motivation so it is not
relevant to studying group behaviour.
The important distinction is not between the unconscious designs
of nature vs conscious designs of people but the type of systems
in which they operate.
Scientific research is better able to deal with this distinction than
traditionalist
The important questions of IR cannot
be answered by the scientific
approach
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The complexity of International Relations is not amenable
to precision, rigour, quantification and general theory
But, Kaplan shows how his System and Process model can
be used to analyse International Relations
Within this framework ideas can be tested and falsified due
to its systematic nature
Not as precise as studies of the physical sciences but still
allows greater depth to the study of theoretical questions
Hedley Bull’s criticisms group Kaplan, Deutsch, Russet and
Schelling together but their approaches are all different
If these criticism are justified “it is again the empirical
scientific evidence and not the abstract literary
considerations that will establish this point” (Kaplan 1966
p.13)
Models will be mistaken for reality
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Scientific method accused of applying simple
assumptions to complex events
But traditionalists make implicit assumptions about
events without reference to context
Because they are not explicit as in the scientific
method these assumptions are more likely to
confuse a model with reality
In models assumptions are explicit and can be reexamined and tested unlike in traditionalist
approaches
Eg. George Kennan on the effectiveness of US aid
to the Eastern Bloc.
New methods have failed to
engage with philosophy
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The systems approach is based upon philosophical
assumptions
Whereas traditionalists themselves have failed to
engage with philosophy – only use speculation
The scientific method will allow correction and
improvement of theories
The traditionalist approach has not clarified
important issues in its method which will lead to
confusion.
David Easton (1969) “The New
Revolution in Political Science”
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“Post-Behaviouralism” a reaction to the
conservative Behaviouralism
A greater sense of urgency
A normative agenda to deal with immediate
problems
“Credo of Relevance”
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Substance over technique: more nb to be relevant
to immediate social problems
Behaviouralism is too conservative, description of
facts hampers understanding them in context
Behaviouralism is too abstract. Needs to be more
focused on realities.
Needs to be more aware of values, research is
never neutral
Intellectuals have a responsibility to promote
humane values
Intellectuals are obliged to act based on their
knowledge
Professional organisations and universities are
obliged to act too.
The dilemma of Behaviouralist
research
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The aim of scientific research is to gather data over a long period of time to
ensure more reliable knowledge.
But “Time is no longer on our side” (Easton 1969 p.1053). Nuclear threat,
population explosion, environmental problems and civil unrest in the US.
The nature of behaviouralist research is unable to deal with these threats.
Post-behaviouralists argue for focusing research on immediate short term
problems, but Easton maintains that long term research is still needed.
Short term research may be inadequate to understand complex causal
mechanisms. Therefore the advice given may be based on unsound knowledge
and do more harm than good.
Behaviouralism has failed to question the underlying values of its research and
how this has effected its results
Eg. From 1958-1968 The American Political Science Review published 3 articles
on urban crises, 4 on racial conflicts, 1 on poverty, 2 on civil disobedience and 2
on violence in the US. All major issues and all underrepresented.
No account of how pluralist democracy has failed to meet domestic and political
pressures in the US.
Solution offered by PostBehaviouralism
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Academics need to be more proactive in promoting
courses of action based on their work
Rather than being at the service of elites, the
military, the government or businesses, research
should seek to help groups in society with the least
power which are underrepresented.
“The Federation of Social Scientists” should be set
up to bring sociologists, economists, psychologists
and political theorists together
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mobilise resources on specific issues
Points for discussion
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Was Behaviouralism a research agenda in its own
right? Or was it a reaction against the established
approach that was ultimately subsumed into the
mainstream?
Does Kaplan adequately defend the scientific
approach against the traditionalist approach? Or
does he just highlight the shortcomings of both?
Is Easton’s call for more politically active research
making normative judgements realistic? Are
researchers obliged to offer prescriptive
judgements?