Behaviorism emphasizes which principle regarding behavior?

Behaviorism emphasizes the principle of stimulus-response, which focuses on how individuals learn through their interactions with the environment. This psychological perspective suggests that learning occurs as a direct response to environmental stimuli, where behaviors can be shaped and modified through reinforcement and punishment. In this view, all behavior is seen as a response to external stimuli, and internal thoughts or innate understandings are not considered crucial in determining behavior.

This principle is rooted in the work of early behaviorists like John B. Watson and B.F. Skinner, who conducted experiments to demonstrate how specific stimuli could elicit predictable responses. For instance, positive reinforcement increases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated, while punishment decreases the likelihood of its occurrence. By focusing on observable behaviors and the external factors that influence them, behaviorism provides a clear framework for understanding how learning happens in a structured and measurable way.