Which psychological perspective focuses on observable behavior?

The perspective that focuses on observable behavior is behaviorism. This approach emphasizes that psychology should be the study of observable, measurable behaviors rather than internal mental processes. Behaviorists like John Watson and B.F. Skinner argued that all behaviors are learned through interactions with the environment and can be changed through conditioning. This school of thought believes that since internal thoughts and feelings cannot be observed directly, they should not be the primary focus of psychological study.

Cognitive psychology, in contrast, is concerned with mental processes such as perception, memory, and problem-solving, which are not directly observable. Humanistic psychology emphasizes personal growth and self-actualization, concentrating on the individual's subjective experience rather than measurable behavior. Psychodynamics focuses on the influence of the unconscious mind and early childhood experiences on behavior, which also involves internal processes that are not directly observable. Therefore, behaviorism distinctly stands out for its commitment to studying observable behavior.