Behaviouralist approach in Political Science

1. NEETHULEKSHMY U
ASST PROFESSOR
PG & RESEARCH DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
S N COLLEGE KOLLAM, KERALA

3.  Modern approach to the study of Political Science.
 A Post Second World War development
 Protest movement against traditional approach in
Political Science
 Associated with the works of American Political
scientists

4.  The roots of behavioural approach can be traced back
to the works of Graham Wallas (Human Nature in
Politics) and Arthur Bentley ( The process of
Government)
 Graham wallas pointed out the use of human nature in
the study of Political Science
 Arthur Bentley gave emphasis to the group study

5.  The major exponents of Behaviouralism are Charles E
Merrium, the Founder of Chicago School, Harold D.
Lasswell, George Catlin, David Easton etc.
 They believed that the traditional approaches neglected
the political phenomena. Therefore they developed a
new approach to the careful study of political
phenomena, i.e. Behavioural approach.

6.  The central focus is on political behaviour of the
individuals.
 Political Science is concerned with the political behaviour
of human beings within the political contexts that is
within a state or other political community.
 Nature of political events are largely determined by the
nature and behavior of the people.

7.  It is an attempt to understand political phenomena in
terms of observed and observable data.
 Use of more scientific tools such as observation,
survey, measurements etc.
 Aims to a value-free subject.

8.  A protest movement against traditional approaches in
Political Science
 Main focus is on political behaviour of the individual
 Emphasis on methodology
 Objective in nature
 Value free
 Emphasis to inter disciplinary study

9.  David Easton has developed Eight characteristics to
behaviouralism.

10. Eight
intellectual
foundations of
Behaviouralism
REGULARITIES
VERIFICATI
ON
TECHNIQUES
QUANTIFICATI
ON
VALUES
SYSTAMATISATI
ON
PURE SCIENCE
INTEGRATION

11.  Study of Political science cannot be value free
 Gave more emphasis on methods and techniques rather
than the output
 Human behaviour cannot be considered as a basic
element as it is not static.