Definition

A theory in psychology that studies how people's actions are influenced by their environment, without considering their thoughts or feelings as important.

Example

Behaviourism has played a significant role in the development of psychological research methods.

Conversation

Have you ever heard about behaviourism in psychology?

Yeah, I think it's interesting how it focuses on actions instead of thoughts.

Right? It's like they believe everything we do is shaped by our environment.

Exactly! It really changes how we think about learning and behavior.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Behaviourism → It is formed from "behaviour" (from Old French *comportement*, meaning conduct or manner of acting) and "-ism" (a suffix used to denote a doctrine or system). The word "behaviourism" refers to the doctrine or system that focuses on observable behaviors rather than internal mental states.

Memory Tip

Think of 'behaviour' as the way someone acts, and '-ism' as a system or doctrine. This helps you remember that behaviourism is a system that studies how people act.

Visually Confused Words