You are interviewing a new member of the psychology department for the university newspaper. The faculty member states, "Internal states undoubtedly exist, but it is not necessary to draw inferences about unobservable states in order to understand behaviour." Which theorist's views are most similar to the views held by this faculty member?

Question

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This statement aligns with the behaviorist perspective, which focuses on observable behavior rather than unobservable internal states like thoughts and feelings. B.F. Skinner, one of the most prominent behaviorists, believed that behavior could be understood through the observation of environmental stimuli and the reinforcement or punishment of that behavior.

You Are Interviewing a New Member of the Psychology Department