Externalist refers to a person who emphasizes the importance of factors outside of an individual's thoughts or behaviors. Some synonyms for externalists include environmentalists, behaviorists, positivists, and empiricists. Environmentalists argue that the environment strongly influences an individual's behavior, while behaviorists focus on observable actions and stimuli to understand behavior. Positivists believe in using scientific methods to understand social phenomena, while empiricists rely on evidence to draw conclusions about the world. Regardless of the specific approach, externalists share a belief that factors outside of an individual contribute significantly to shaping their thoughts and behaviors, making them an essential perspective in fields such as psychology and sociology.