Final answer:
Watson and Skinner's behaviorism focused on observable behaviors and the external stimuli that affect those behaviors, discounting the importance of internal mental states in the study of psychology.
Step-by-step explanation:
The beliefs of Watson and Skinner regarding behaviorism focus on the study of behavior through conditioning, with little to no emphasis on internal mental states. Watson and Skinner, strict behaviorists, advocated for an approach to psychology that concentrated on observable behaviors in response to environmental stimuli, arguing that internal mental processes are not measurable and, therefore, must be excluded from scientific study. John B. Watson is recognized as one of the founders of behaviorism and presented the notion that all behavior could be understood as a response to stimuli, without considering the unconscious or mental states, contrary to Freud's position.
B. F. Skinner expanded on the concept of behaviorism by focusing on operant conditioning, where behavior is influenced by its consequences—in other words, reinforcements and punishments. Skinner’s analysis of behavior also included the use of the operant conditioning chamber, or Skinner box, to study behavioral responses to variable reinforcement schedules.
In summary, Watson and Skinner believed that psychology should be the study of observable behavior, with Watson emphasizing the stimulus-response model and Skinner emphasizing the role of reinforcements and punishments in shaping behavior.