Mental Health Theories, Treatment Settings, And Cultural Implications Practice Test

Behaviorism centers on observable behavior and how it is learned from environmental stimuli. John B. Watson argued that almost all behavior can be explained by conditioning—the process of forming associations between stimuli and responses as a person interacts with their surroundings. Classical conditioning exemplifies this: a neutral stimulus becomes able to evoke a reflexive response after being paired with a stimulus that naturally triggers that response. So, the idea that traits and responses are learned through classical conditioning aligns with Watson’s view that behavior is shaped by environmental contingencies rather than by innate traits or internal thoughts. The other options argue for genetics, dream analysis, or social learning that involves cognition and modeling, which fall outside Watson’s behaviorist framework.