behaviorism
nounUK /bɪˈheɪvjərɪzəm/
US /bɪˈheɪvjərɪzəm/
A way of studying people and animals by watching what they do.
Behaviorism focuses on how rewards and punishments change what a person does.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. The belief that how someone acts matters more than what they think or feel.
Her behaviorism made her judge people by their actions, not their words.
3. A method of training that uses rewards and repetition to teach new habits.
The school used behaviorism to help students build good study routines.
4. An approach in animal training based on observing and shaping actions.
Trainers who follow behaviorism reward a dog each time it sits on command.