Final answer:
Behaviorism, introduced by John B. Watson, focuses on studying and controlling observable behavior through classical and operant conditioning, avoiding the study of consciousness and internal mental processes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Founded by John B. Watson, behaviorism is a school of thought in psychology that suggests psychological research should focus on observable behavior, as internal mental processes cannot be seen or measured. This perspective discards the study of consciousness and insists on objective study through observable behaviors and stimulus-response relationships.
Behaviorism employs methods such as classical conditioning, as demonstrated by Ivan Pavlov, where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with an innately meaningful stimulus and comes to elicit a similar response. Watson extended this concept to human emotions, asserting that emotions could also be conditioned responses. Another key method in behaviorism is operant conditioning, championed by B.F. Skinner, where the consequences of a behavior (reinforcements or punishments) determine the likelihood of that behavior being repeated.
The principles of behaviorism have played a significant role in various fields, including therapy and education, by emphasizing behavior modification and the environmental influences on behavior.