Behaviorism
Behaviorism is a theory in psychology and philosophy of mind which asserts that mental states should be understood in terms of observable behavior. It emerged in the early 20th century as a reaction against introspective methods that were subjective and unscientific.
Key proponents like John B. Watson and B.F. Skinner argued that only behavior that can be measured and observed should be the focus of scientific psychology. According to behaviorism, mental terms like belief or desire do not refer to inner mental entities but to patterns of behavior or dispositions to act in certain ways.
Philosophical behaviorism later influenced logical positivism and linguistic analysis. However, it has been criticized for ignoring the inner experiences and consciousness that also define human minds. Despite its limitations, behaviorism contributed significantly to the development of experimental psychology and learning theory.