Which theoretical approach is characterized by stimulus-response associations learned by the learner?

• A. Behaviorism
• B. Cognitivism
• C. Social learning theory
• D. Constructivism

Answer: (A)

Stimulus-response associations learned by the learner are the hallmark of this approach. In behaviorism, learning is seen as a change in observable behavior that happens when environmental stimuli are paired with responses and reinforced to strengthen the connection or punished to weaken it. The learner is guided by external cues, and internal thoughts are not required to explain the change in behavior. Through conditioning and reinforcement, these stimulus-response links become strong enough to produce consistent behaviors in response to specific stimuli. While other theories emphasize thinking, modeling, or constructing knowledge, behaviorism centers on the external relationships between stimuli and responses and how reinforcement shapes them.