Therefore, cognitive psychologists try to analyze the active thinking processes that occur when a person is displaying a particular behavior. Psychologists who follow the cognitive perspective believe that all abnormal behavior is a result of flawed thinking. Thus, the only appropriate way to treat abnormal behavior is to alter the way the person thinks. Some psychologists who follow the cognitive perspective include Piaget, Sternberg, Beck, and Gardner. Behaviorists believe that behavior does not involve thinking.
Behaviorists focus solely on what can be observed.
Thus, they reject any notion that behavior is produced by thought processes or brain chemistry. What they do believe is that every action is either reinforced or punished. If an action is met with reinforcement, it will likely happen again. If an action is met with punishment, it will likely not happen again. In addition, behaviorists also believe that people can learn beaviors by watching other people being rewarded or punished.