Definition

A branch of psychology that focuses only on observable actions and behaviors, ignoring thoughts and feelings.

Example

Behaviorism emphasizes the importance of studying how people act in response to different situations.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of behaviorism in psychology?

Yeah, I think it focuses on observable actions rather than feelings, right?

Exactly! It really emphasizes how we respond to different stimuli.

That makes sense; it's interesting how it leaves out our emotions.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Behaviorism → It is formed from "behavior" (from Middle English *behaviour*, meaning manner of conducting oneself) and "-ism" (a suffix used to form nouns indicating a doctrine or belief). The word "behaviorism" refers to the doctrine or belief in the study of behavior, particularly in psychology.

Memory Tip

Think of 'behavior' as how someone conducts themselves, and '-ism' as a belief or doctrine. This helps you remember that behaviorism is the belief focused on studying how people behave.

Visually Confused Words