Part I: General Comparison between the 19th Century and the 21st Century
A lot has changed between the 19 th century when behavioral theories of psychology were established and the current times from the perspective of the overall field of psychology. The 19th century marks the period when psychology shifted from being a psychological discipline and became a scientific discipline (Graham, 2019). At the advent of the 19th century, psychological discourse was based on works of philosophers such as Rene Descartes and his mind/body question. By the end of that century, scientific research was being carried out to investigate the psychological phenomenon led by researchers such as Wilhelm Wundt. Whereas a lot changed between the 19 th century and the 20 th century, there are still several congruencies. Among the changes include just how much psychology has developed including the development of more advanced theories such as Cognitive Theories (Graham, 2019; Meier & Davis, 2019). Other changes include the ethical and legal changes that have exponentially limited the scope of psychological research. Finally, in the current times, the discipline of psychiatry, which combines psychology and physiology has also expanded exponentially. Among the congruencies between the 19 th century and the 21 st century is that the philosophical debate regarding the validity of psychology still exists. Further, discrimination and stigmatization of mental health patients may have reduced exponentially, but it is still a major issue. Finally, in the USA, the 19 th century saw the height of industrialization which placed a lot of pressure on people hence augmenting psychological problems (Meier & Davis, 2019). The 21 st century is even worse when it comes to mental health issues due to issues such as work-life balance, substance abuse, gender-related issues, and financial problems.
Part II: Specialized Comparison between the 18th and 21st Centuries
Behaviorism In the two Periods
In the 19 th century, behaviorism was in its nascence as it was in the process of being developed and propagated by pioneers such as Edward Thorndike (Graham, 2019). Contemporaneously, the field of psychology itself was also in nascence. The theory, therefore, faced a lot of incredulity and opposition because it was new, unproven and contrary to what was considered as normal more so by a religious organization (Graham, 2019). In the 21 st century, behaviorism still faces some form incredulity and opposition but for an entirely different reason. Whereas psychology and psychiatry are mainstream disciplines that have been accepted by most, many other theories for explaining human behavior have developed (Meier & Davis, 2019). These include cognitive theories, environmental theories, social theories, and even physiological theories. Behaviorism is thus still jostling for acceptable just as it did in the 19 th century.
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Theory Application in the Two Eras
Behaviorism has gradually been advanced almost into science and used to predict and even control behavior by psychological practitioners and other professionals such as teachers. Among implicational changes it has seen include advancing from being a set of ideas used by researchers to advance an argument into being a set of skills used by practitioners to manage patients and clients through applied behavior analysis (Graham, 2019; Meier & Davis, 2019). In human resource management, behaviorism is currently used to improve conduct and productivity in the workplace. Indeed, companies are willing to pay handsomely to psychologists and counselors for assistance in increasing their returns on wages paid (Meier & Davis, 2019). In clinical psychology, it is also applied in assisting autistic patients or those that have been affected by substance abuse. Patients and even the government is willing to pay practitioners for these services, a mark of their mainstream acceptance.
Part III: Future Prediction
The practice of psychology and psychiatry is among the most malleable of modern scientific disciplines with even its basic principles keeping on changing with time. For example, homosexuality was considered a mental health problem in the mainstream just a few decades ago but is now accepted as standard behavior with homophobia being frowned upon. Based on the above, in less than five decades to come, psychology in general and behaviorism, in particular, will have changed so much that the current dispensation will seem extremely archaic.
References
Graham, G. (2019, March 19). Behaviorism. Retrieved from https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/behaviorism/
Meier, S. T., & Davis, S. R. (2019). The elements of counseling . Long Grove, Illinois: Waveland Press.
