Which of the following statements is true regarding the behavioral perspective of abnormality?

• A. It emphasizes learned behaviors and the role of environmental factors in the development of psychological disorders.
• B. It considers abnormal behavior as a result of distorted thinking patterns and irrational beliefs.
• C. It focuses primarily on unconscious conflicts and childhood experiences as the root of abnormal behavior.
• D. It attributes abnormality mainly to genetic and biological factors.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the core focus of the behavioral perspective in psychology, which centers on observable behaviors and how they are acquired or modified through interaction with the environment.
2. Understand that the behavioral perspective explains abnormality as learned behaviors, meaning that psychological disorders develop through conditioning, reinforcement, and environmental influences rather than internal thoughts or unconscious processes.
3. Compare the behavioral perspective with other perspectives mentioned: cognitive (distorted thinking), psychodynamic (unconscious conflicts), and biological (genetic factors), noting that these focus on different causes of abnormality.
4. Recognize that the correct statement aligns with the behavioral perspective's emphasis on learned behaviors and environmental factors in the development of psychological disorders.
5. Conclude that the behavioral perspective does not primarily consider internal thought patterns, unconscious conflicts, or genetic causes, but rather focuses on how behavior is shaped by external experiences.