The Myth of the “Cognitive Revolution”

General introductory textbooks play a major part in moulding students’ conceptions of psychology. A systematic review has been undertaken of the treatment in 40 texts of the term “cognitive revolution”. These texts commonly claimed that behaviorism dominated psychology in the first half of the twentieth century and during that time cognitive processes went virtually unexplored. They also commonly claimed that behaviourism was subsequently displaced by cognitive psychology and its theoretical claims are of historical interest only. There is clear evidence against both claims. It is argued here that the history of psychology in the twentieth century as presented in introductory textbooks works to the detriment of behaviour analysis and to the disadvantage of those students and professionals who would welcome and use behaviour analysis if they were properly informed.