Final answer:
Behaviorism is a psychological theory that studies observable behaviors and considers these behaviors to be responses to environmental stimuli.
Step-by-step explanation:
Behaviorism is a theory within psychology that focuses on studying overt behavior as a means to understand human and animal activity. This approach emphasizes observable behaviors over unobservable mental processes and is rooted in the belief that all behaviors are a response to environmental stimuli. Pioneers like John Watson and B. F. Skinner were instrumental in promoting this school of thought, with Skinner specifically highlighting the importance of operant conditioning as a key mechanism in shaping behavior. Watson argued that psychology should be an objective science, in which behavior can be explained simply as a stimulus-response reaction, and is measurable and observable. Consequently, he believed in the notion that human actions are determined and can be predicted based on genetics, environmental influences, and conditioning. Behaviorism was deterministic, viewing human behavior as the end result of environmental interactions and learnt responses, rather than driven by inborn personality traits or unconscious desires.