What is the focus of the study known as behaviorism?

The focus of behaviorism centers on observable behaviors and the ways in which these behaviors can be influenced or modified through various forms of learning and conditioning. This approach prioritizes measurable and observable aspects of human and animal behavior, rather than exploring internal mental processes or emotions. Behaviorists argue that behavior can be studied scientifically and that external stimuli play a crucial role in shaping responses.

This perspective is grounded in principles such as classical conditioning, where a natural reflex responds to a stimulus, and operant conditioning, which involves the reinforcement or punishment of certain behaviors. By emphasizing external behavior, behaviorism provides a clear framework for developing therapeutic techniques and interventions aimed at changing maladaptive behaviors, making it particularly relevant in fields like education and psychology.

The other options, while valid aspects of psychological study, do not encapsulate the core focus of behaviorism, which is strictly concerned with observable actions and the conditions that trigger or reinforce these actions.