Final answer:
The statement is true; external actions are related to overt behaviors, while internal actions are associated with covert behaviors. Both situational and dispositional influences are crucial in the study of psychology, and it's important to consider how both internal states and the external environment shape behaviors.
Step-by-step explanation:
In psychology, understanding these behaviors involves examining both situational and dispositional influences. Situational influences suggest that behavior is a product of environmental factors, while dispositional influences take into account internal factors such as personality traits and temperament. Psychologists assert that human behavior is a complex mix of internal states and external environment, and both perspectives are essential for a holistic understanding of behavior. The cognitive processes (thinking, beliefs) underlying one's actions are considered covert behaviors, reflecting the internal aspect of behavior.
Social psychologists often focus on how the social environment (situational factors) impacts overt behaviors, while personality psychologists may emphasize the dispositional factors that influence behavior. One of the key concepts, the actor-observer bias, highlights that individuals (actors) tend to explain their own behavior based on the situation, whereas an observer may attribute others' behaviors to their dispositions or personality traits, a tendency known as the fundamental attribution error.