Final answer:
Behavioristic psychologists, like B.F. Skinner, believe true that extrinsic factors are predominant in shaping behavior according to the principles of operant conditioning. They focus on environmental influences over intrinsic qualities, although modern psychology often considers both internal and external factors.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that behavioristic psychologists believe that extrinsic factors are more powerful predictors of behavior than intrinsic factors is true.
Behavioristic psychologists, such as B.F. Skinner, contend that behavior is primarily determined by external stimuli and consequences, rather than by intrinsic or internal factors. This perspective, known as behaviorism, posits that all behaviors can be understood through operant conditioning—which involves learning from the consequences of our actions. Receiving a reward or punishment as a result of behavior can significantly shape future behavior. This belief is in contrast to other psychological perspectives that may emphasize the role of intrinsic motivation or internal factors such as personality traits or biological predispositions.
In the field of psychology, there is a division between those who advocate for a dispositionist approach—which focuses on internal factors such as personality traits—and those who support a situationist perspective, which argues that behavior is the product of the environment and situational contexts. Behaviorists fall on the side of the situationist perspective, where the environment is considered the main driver behind behavior. Notably, modern psychology often acknowledges the importance of an interaction between internal and external factors in influencing behavior. Nonetheless, the behaviorist viewpoint prioritizes the influence of external reinforcement and the predictability of behavior based on past experiences of reinforcement and punishment.