Behaviorism focuses on making psychology an objective science by
studying overt behavior and deemphasizing the importance of unobservable mental
processes
studying implicit motivations for behavior through the use of implicit association
tests
studying how emotional responses influence behavior while deemphasizing the
importance of the subconscious
studying the genetic basis for behavior and theorizing how instincts influence
behavior
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
Correct Answer:
Studying overt behavior and deemphasizing the importance of unobservable mental processes
Explanation:
Behaviorism is a psychological perspective that emphasizes the study of observable behavior over internal mental states. Founded by John B. Watson in the early 20th century, behaviorism sought to establish psychology as a natural science. This approach was influenced by the desire to create objective, measurable methods for studying human and animal behavior, moving away from introspection and the subjective study of consciousness that dominated earlier psychological theories.
The core principle of behaviorism is that only behaviors that can be observed and measured are suitable for scientific inquiry. Mental processes such as thoughts, emotions, and desires were considered too subjective and unreliable for scientific analysis. Behaviorists argue that behaviors are shaped by the environment through mechanisms such as reinforcement and punishment. This view was later expanded by B.F. Skinner, who introduced the concept of operant conditioning, and by Ivan Pavlov’s work on classical conditioning.
Behaviorism also deemphasizes the role of innate traits or subconscious processes, as proposed by psychoanalytic theorists like Freud. Instead, it focuses on the relationship between stimuli in the environment and the responses they elicit, emphasizing learning through experience. This approach has been widely applied in areas like education, behavior modification, and therapy, particularly in treating phobias and addictions.
However, behaviorism has limitations. Critics argue that it oversimplifies human behavior by ignoring internal mental states and the influence of genetics and biology. Despite these critiques, behaviorism played a significant role in shaping psychology as a scientific discipline, paving the way for later approaches like cognitive psychology, which integrates the study of mental processes with observable behaviors.