Which term describes the belief in an inner mental dimension that mediates behavior?

• A. MENTALISM
• B. METHODOLOGICAL BEHAVIORISM
• C. RADICAL BEHAVIORISM
• D. HYPOTHETICAL CONSTRUCT

Answer: (A)

Mentalism captures the idea that there is an inner set of mental events—like thoughts, desires, and feelings—that mediates or causes behavior. This view posits a private, internal dimension guiding actions, which stands in contrast to approaches that focus only on observable behavior and environmental variables. Methodological behaviorism analyzes behavior and external stimuli while largely avoiding private mental processes as causal factors. Radical behaviorism emphasizes observable behavior and its contingencies, treating private events as outside the scope of causation. A hypothetical construct refers to an abstract, unobservable concept used to explain data, but it isn’t specifically defined as the belief in an inner mental mediator. So the term that best fits the description is mentalism.