Behaviorism focuses on making psychology an objective science by Select one: O a. studying how emotional responses influence behavior while deemphasizing the importance of the subconscious b. studying implicit motivations for behavior through the use of implicit association tests C. studying overt behavior and deemphasizing the importance of unobservable mental processes d. studying the genetic basis for behavior and theorizing how instincts influence behavior
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is:
c. studying overt behavior and deemphasizing the importance of unobservable mental processes
Explanation:
Behaviorism is a school of psychology that emerged in the early 20th century, emphasizing the study of observable behaviors over internal mental states. This approach was developed as a response to the introspective methods prevalent at the time, which were considered subjective and unreliable. Behaviorists argued that psychology should focus on measurable and observable behaviors to establish it as an objective science.
John B. Watson, often regarded as the father of behaviorism, published the “Behaviorist Manifesto” in 1913, advocating for psychology to be a purely objective experimental branch of natural science. He asserted that introspection forms no essential part of its methods and that the behaviorist recognizes no dividing line between man and brute.
B.F. Skinner, another prominent behaviorist, introduced the concept of operant conditioning, which focuses on how the consequences of a behavior affect the likelihood of that behavior occurring again. Skinner’s work further solidified the behaviorist perspective by demonstrating that behavior could be shaped and maintained through reinforcement and punishment, without the need to reference internal mental states.
By concentrating on observable behaviors and minimizing the role of unobservable mental processes, behaviorism sought to make psychology a more objective and scientifically rigorous discipline. This focus on observable behavior allowed for the development of experimental methods that could be replicated and verified, thereby enhancing the credibility and scientific standing of psychology.
In summary, behaviorism’s emphasis on studying overt behavior and deemphasizing unobservable mental processes was central to its goal of establishing psychology as an objective science.