If a cognitive psychologist were to criticize a behaviorist, what might they say?

• A. Behaviorism is great because it focuses on the most important facet of humanity – behavior.
• B. By focusing entirely on behavior, we are limiting ourselves because most psychological phenomena happen in the mind.
• C. By focusing entirely on behavior, we fail to consider the social and cultural environment.
• D. We should be considering developmental change and stability when examining psychological phenomena.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the core principles of behaviorism, which emphasize observable behavior as the primary subject of psychological study, often disregarding internal mental states.
2. Recognize that cognitive psychology emerged as a response to behaviorism, emphasizing the importance of internal mental processes such as thinking, memory, and problem-solving.
3. Consider the criticism that behaviorism may overlook the complexity of human psychology by not accounting for mental processes that cannot be directly observed.
4. Acknowledge the argument that behaviorism might neglect the influence of social and cultural factors on behavior, which are crucial for a comprehensive understanding of psychological phenomena.
5. Reflect on the importance of considering developmental perspectives, which involve understanding how psychological processes change and remain stable over time, something that behaviorism might not fully address.