conditionist

Conditionist refers to a person who believes in or practices conditionism. Conditionism is a philosophical stance that emphasizes the influence of environmental factors and past experiences in shaping an individual's behavior, thoughts, and identity. It posits that all aspects of a person are a product of their conditioning.

This perspective often draws upon principles from behaviorism, suggesting that learning occurs through interaction with the environment via reinforcement, punishment, and association. A conditionist might argue that free will is an illusion, as choices are predetermined by the sum total of one's conditioning. They would likely assert that understanding an individual's history and their current environmental context is key to predicting and explaining their actions.

While not a widely recognized formal school of thought in contemporary philosophy, the ideas underlying conditionism are explored in various fields, including psychology, sociology, and even some interpretations of determinism. Critics sometimes argue that conditionism oversimplifies human complexity and neglects the potential for agency and internal cognitive processes that are not solely a product of external stimuli. The term is often used descriptively rather than as a self-applied label by those who hold these views.