What is the primary focus of behavioral psychology?

Behavioral psychology primarily focuses on the study of observable behavior and how learning influences it. This discipline emphasizes that all behaviors are acquired through conditioning, a process that involves interactions with the environment. Behavioral psychologists investigate how various reinforcements and punishments shape behavior, using principles established by figures like B.F. Skinner and John Watson.

The approach disregards internal mental states, such as thoughts and feelings, asserting that understanding behavior can be achieved by observing external actions. This is in contrast to other disciplines, such as cognitive psychology, which focuses on internal mental processes; psychodynamic theories, which explore unconscious motives; and social psychology, which examines the impact of social situations on behavior. Thus, the focus on observable behavior and learning outcomes distinctly characterizes behavioral psychology, making it a unique field within psychology.