BehaviouralApproach

Introduction
The process of development of new science of Politics, which has now come to be known as modern Political Science,
began with the coming of Behavioural revolution. The deep dissatisfaction_ with the nature, scope, methods and
conclusions of the traditional Political Science led to the emergence of a revolution-the Behavioural revolution in
Politics. This revolution led to the emergence of &ehavioural Approach in Politics.

Behavioralism is regarded as a turning pointin the history of political scierce, thought and anahysis. t has been widely
scclaimed as a great revolution which has transformed the goals, nature, scope, methodology, and theoretical
formulations ofpolitical science. Emergence of behavioural studies reflects the determination of
new scholars to derive their findings on the basis of direction or indirect observation of human behaviour. It is to be
regarded as afirst real attempt to make political studies as a'science of politics.
Behaviouralism is an intellectual reaction against traditional [Link] represents the development of
Political Science from traditional approach
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Behavioralism,as an academic movement in politicalscience first began in the United

States after the Second World War. Growth of behavioralism is the outcome of varied reasons
marked mainly by dissatisfaction with prevailing historical descriptive,legal formaland normative
[Link] 1908, Graham Walls (Human nature inpolitics) and ArthurF. Bentley (The process of
government) advocated psychological and group oriented approaches Walter Lippmann (public
Opinion) in 1922 took up the study of public opinion and political attitude formation.
In 1951, David B. Truman revived Bentley's neglected orientation in his(The governmental
process). But the pioneering efforts were made by Charles E. Merriam (New Aspects of Politics in
1925)His efforts came out in the form of famous 'Chicago School' which produced a host of political
scientists, such as Harold F. Gosnell, Harold D. Laswell, V.0. Key, Herbert A. Simon, Gabriel Almond,
etc.

In the field of political Science, the origins of this approach can be traced to this approach
can be traced to the writings of Graham Walls and Arthur Bentley. These two writers in the early
Twentieth Century, laid emphasis on the importance to political process in the analysis of politics.
Charles E. Merriam and G.E.G Catlin in the 1920's and Harold D. Lasswell in the 1930's stressed this
approach. It gained popularity with the work of American Political Scientists after the Second World
War. David EastonlA Framework For Political Analvsis 1965) laid the foundation of the behavioural.
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Easton's concept of behavioralism is regarded as the intellectual foundation stone of

behavioralism. It contains principles is known; (1) Regularities- These are certain discoverable
uniformities inpolitical behaviour of human beings that can be expressed in generalisations or
theories capable of explaining and predicating social phenomena. (2) Verification- The validity of
such generalisation must be tested and verified in principle by reference to relevance to relevant
behaviour. (3) Techniques- Appropriate techniques should be used for observing, recording,
acquiring, analyzing or testing and interpreting the data. (4) Quantification- Ample care should be
taken by a researcher not merely to collect data but also to measure and quantify the same.
Quantification and measurement are the essential ingredients that determine the scientific
o method.

(S) Values- Facts and values may be studied separately. Ethical evaluation and empirical
explanation should be kept analytically distinct and it should be value free or value neutral.
(6) Systematization- It means that research in the field of politicalscience should be systematic.
Attemptsshould be made to build systematic theories on the basis of logically interrelated body of
concepts and propositions.(7) Pure Science- The behaviour lists contented that both theory and its
application are parts of scientific method and must be closely linked. (8) lntegration- The studyof
political Science should be integrated with other social sciences and inter disciplinary approach
chonld he adnnted It rillfarilitate rrnce fertilizatinn nf ideas and racilts in more seneralitu and
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behavioralism. It contains principles is known; (1) Regularities- These are certain discoverable
uniformities in political behaviour of human beings that can be expressed in generalisations or
theories capable of explaining and predicating social phenomena. (2) Verification- The validity of
such generalisation must be tested and verified in principle by reference to relevanceto relevant
behaviour. (3) Techniques- Appropriate techniques should be used for observing, recording,
acquiring, analyzing or testing and interpreting the data. (4) Quantification- Ample care should be
taken by a researcher not merely to collect data but also tomeasure and quantify the same.
Quantification and measurement are the essential ingredients that determine the scientific
omethod.
(5)Values- Facts and values may be studied separately. Ethical levaluation and empirical
explanationshould be kept analytically distinct and it should be value free or value neutral.
(6) Systematization- It means that research in the field of political science should be systematic.
Attempts should be made to build systematictheories on the basis of logically interrelated body of
concepts andpropositions. (7) Pure Science- The behaviour lists contented that both theory and its
application are parts of scientific method and must be closely linked. (8) Integration- The study of
political Science should be integrated with other social sciences and inter disciplinary approach
should be adopted. It willfacilitate cross fertilization of ideas and results in more generality and
validity of political studies
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Characteristics of behavioural approach
Behavioralism primarily sort of protest movements against the
inadequacies of conventional political science mainly led by the
are highiy dissatisfied with the American political [Link]
achievements of conventional political science because of its
inadequacies. The conventionalpolitical science confined itsstudy only to the state and government
and he did not take into account the political
phenomena
(1) Focus on behaviour - behaviouralism has made and the behaviour of men
the individualas centre of
attention in the study of politicalphenomena. Behaviouralists are concerned with the individual's
political behaviour as a member of group and institutions.
(2) Scientificoutlook and objectivity - Behaviouralism stress the
special importance of the
scientific outlook and objectivity. Behaviouralists overlook the ethicalvalues because they
studied scientificallyand objectively. Instead they advocate value free science of politics. cannot be
(3) Methodological revolution- Behaviouralism brought about altogether a new
approach in the
study of politicalresearch. Whereas the traditional political scientist employed
philosophical, historical orcomparative methods for thief study, the behaviouralists emphasis such
techniques are observation, interviews, survey, research, case studies, data collection, statistical
analysis, quantification etc.
(4) Inter-disciplinary study- The political behaviour of an individualis apart of the total social
hehaviour of allthe individuas.
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Criticism of behavioural approach- Though behaviouralism made a breakthrough in the field

of politicalScience, it has been criticized on many fronts. Some of its weaknesses have been
identified as follows:

(1) Behaviouralism concerns more with Techniques than Results- Behaviour list attach too
much importance to the techniques and methods and do not worry at all about the theoretical
importance of the subject. While doing the research, the behaviour lists have chosen only such
topics for research inwhich better techniques are an available and they have ignored the rest.
Besides that they have not bothered about the results.

(2) Behaviouralism emphasise the importance of behavioural effect at the cost of

institutional effects- it should be noted particularly that American behaviour lists have
altogether neglected the effectsof the institutions upon the societyand concentrated their
efforts only at the behavioural aspect of the individuals and groups confined mainly in
America.

(3)Study of politics can never be value-free- the critics of behaviouralism contend that politics
can never be value free as held by the behaviour lists. In politics veryselection of subjects for
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(4) Behaviouralism emphasis static rather than current situation- Behaviour lists has been
concentrating their study mainly on the static subjects rather onthe current problems. In the
beginning behaviour lists justified they were filling the gap left by the institutionalism but now it
cannot be justified as the burning problems such as threat of nuclear war, hunger, famine,
undernourishment etc. The behaviour lists have so far ignored allthese urgent problems because
that does not suit their study.

(5) Difficulties in studying ever changing behaviour- it is very difficult tostudy the ever
changing continuously.
changing behaviour of man because the emotions, ideas and thinking go on
man. Moreover, it
Therefore, absolutely no correct predictionscan be made about the behaviour of
governing the behaviour of man.
is very difficult to measure the role of various factors
political science is depending
(6) Behavioural research depends too much on other sciences-
and borrowing so much from
uponother socialsciences particularly sociology and anthropology autonomy of political science may
them that it is apprehended that the very identity, integrity and
be lost.
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I
Post-Behaviouralism
Post-behvioralisnm is the next step or reform movement of behavioural revolution. Like behaviouralism, it was again
propounded by David Easton in his presidential address to the American Political Science Association in 1969 which
relied on relevance and action? It lay new emphasis on values, on issues of justice, freedom and equality. David Easton
pointed out that post-behaviouralism was future oriented, seeking to propel political science in new
directions, and to add rather than deny its past heritage. It was both a movement and an intellectual
tendency. Post-behaviouralism emphasis on the facts as wellas values. It is a reform movement
within the discipline of political science. The two basic motivation of post-behaviouralism is
relevance and action. Relevance means the development of such theories which can be utilized for
the good of the society. The research techniques are good but emphasis should be on using these
researches techniques to make theories which will answer the problem of the society.

CAUSES OFEMERGENCE:
The American Society, by the end of the 1960s, was faced with a number of socio-political problem.
These problems were Vietnam war, the revolt of the black against white, environmental problems, economic
crisis,feminist movement and so on, which made the younger generation intellectuals question the efficacy and
response of the political and administrative systems to these problems. A new direction was emerging. The
objectives and aims of the Caucus, as stated in their April 1969 manifesto, was to restore political science as a
relevant and problem solving discipline which can serve the poor, oppressed and underdeveloped peoples at
home and abroad in their struggles against the established hierarchies, elites and institutions forms of
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The behaviouralism which failed to solve any practical problem ofthe world even after spending
sof rupees on research in regard to developing new methodology and techniques. Therefore
post-behaviouralism arose as a protest-movement against behaviouralism.

FEATURES OF POST-BEHAVIOURALISM: The general features of post -behaviouralism are given

below:
1. Opposition to value free social science: The post-behaviouralists are deadly oPposed to the
attempts of the behaviouralists in making politicalscience as avalue-free science. Post
behaviouralists give due considerationfor values unlike the behaviouralists whothink of a value
free science. Values should not be sacrificed for scientism.

2. AMovement of Protest:The post-behaviouralists asserted that political must be relevant to

society as justice, iberty, equality, democracy etc. Easton asserted that the role of the intellectuals
has been must be to protect human values of civilization.
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[Link] Oriented Study :Post-behaviouralists wantedthat research should be future oriented .Aresearcher
and investigator of socialand political problems with the help of his research should be in a position to fore
see the coming events and make prediction as well so that the society is fore-warned of coming events.
4. Purpose oriented research : According to post-behaviouralists the research should be relevant and
purposefulfor the society. It should be relevant to the problems with which society is faced, and aiso come ou
with practicable solutions which can be implemented by administrators. As far as possible the solutions shoul:
be applicable to allsocieties and not to a particular society.

5. Action Oriented :Post-behaviouralists put alot of emphasis on action rather than an contemplative science
According to them, knowledge for the sake of knowledge has no relevance but knowledge must put to work.
When knowledge can be used to work that it can help in reshaping society and better for the society. So,
PostBehaviouralists laid stress on action.

The action part involves bringing about changes in the society by social action. David Easton
who had once enumerated eight main characteristics of behaviouralism and call them the the
intellectualfoundation stones of the movement, nowcame out with seven major traits of postbehaviouralism
and described them as the 'credo of Relevance' or 'a distillation of maximal image'
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1. Substance must have precedence over the technique- it may be good to

tools of investigation, but the more important point was the have sophisticated
be applied. Unless the scientific research was purpose for which these tools were to
relevant and meaningful for the contemporary urgent
social problems, it was not worth being undertaken. To the slogan raised by
the behaviouralist that it
wasto be wrong than vague, the post-behaviouralist raised the
be vague than no relevantlyprecise. counter-slogan that it was better to
2. Political science should not lose touch with brute realties of
politics- political science,
during the behavioural movement, had broken itself from the brute realities of politics. With its enormous wealth
and technical resources, and a fantastic rate of increase in man's material comforts, the
western world was, at the
same time, moving towards increasing social conflicts and deepening fears and anxieties about the future. If it was
not the responsibility of the political scientists to reach out to the real needs of the humanity of what use
political
science was to society.
3. Political science must not be value force- behaviour lists had put much emphasis on scientism
and value-free approaches. This was a very unhappy situation. It was on value premises that all
knowledge stood and unless values were regarded as the propelling force behind knowledge, there
wasa danger that the knowledge was to be used for wrong purposes. Values played an important
role in politics and research. Theyshould not be thrown out from political science in the name of
science.
4. Political Science should aim for social change and not for social preservation- Contemporary political science
should place its main emphasis on social change and not on social preservation as the behaviour lists seemed to be
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To conclude, post-behavioural approach does not mean a ew wave of methodological

vations. It signifies stock taking and re-appraisal. There is a noticeable
aspect concerning value-preferences, identified with the normative
trend back to the vital
approach. The post-behaviour
lists did not deny the importance of technical proficiency, but they did
basic understanding and reliable knowledge necessarily implied that the not agree that the search for
scientist should not cut
himself adrift from the practical concerns of the society, nor did they
believe that values could be
kept out of all scientific pursuits. It was the duty of the political
scientists to find out solutions to
contemporary problems. If the present crisis in society arose out of deep social conflicts, these
conflicts had to be resolved. If the resolution of the conflicts needs
political order, the political scientists should fairly and boldly ask forbreaking up of the existing
that and he must not only rest
being content with suggesting reforms but also contribute his best to the
direction in which it could serve the desired goals more effectively. Thus itreshaping
can
of society in the
from traditional approaches to the post-behaviouralapproach, there is not be concluded that
only change but also
continuity.
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Differences / Comparison between Behaviouralism & Post

behaviouralism
1. Difference in different phases of development: Behaviouralism is an
intellectualreaction against traditional political approach. This represents
the development of Political Science from traditional approach. Whereas
Post- behaviouralism is an important reform in Behaviouralism This
represents the development of Political Science from Behaviouralism.

2. Differences in Nature: Basic concept of Behaviouralism is not creative,

whereas Post - behaviouralism is creative. Post - behaviouralism has never
opposed Behaviouralism, rather it hasdeveloped Behaviouralism through
new experiments.
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"3. Differences in Assumption: Behaviouralism acceptsthe basic

similarity between Political Science and natural sciences. Where as
Post-Behaviouralism do not consider Political Science as the same as
natural science. They believe Political Science to be a social science.

"4. Differences in Approach: Behaviouralism accepts the importance

of facts only to study PoliticalScience and ignores values, whereas
Post-behaviouralism accepts the importance of both, facts as well as
values.

"5. Differences in Relevance: Behaviouralism lays stress on the

technical purity whereas Post - behaviouralism lays stress on
relevance of research along with purity of technique. David Easton
has rightlv said that Post - hehaviouralism helieVes in theorvof
 Toconclude, it can be said that by origin, both Behaviouralism and Post
behaviouralism are given to PoliticalScience American political scholars. Post
behaviouralism is not an opposition movement of Behaviouralism, rather it has
developed a more relevant approach in Political Science. Today, the condition of
inter - contrast is almost gone. Post - behaviouralism is just an attempt to
the shortcomings of Behaviouralism. Post-behaiouralism is not an anti
behaviouralism but it is a new revolution in the study of political science. It ends the
dichotomybetween fact and value