Which of the following best describes behaviorism?

Behaviorism is best described as an emphasis on observable behavior as learned because it focuses on how individuals acquire behaviors through interactions with their environment. This approach posits that all behaviors are acquired through conditioning processes, primarily classical and operant conditioning. Behaviorists argue that only observable actions should be studied since they can be measured and quantified, which contrasts with other psychological paradigms that explore underlying thoughts, feelings, and unconscious motivations.

In behaviorism, the focus is on how stimuli in the environment can shape behavior rather than on internal mental states or processes. This perspective has led to effective behavior modification techniques, especially in areas such as education and therapy.

The other options reflect concepts outside the core principles of behaviorism. Unconscious motivations align more with psychoanalytic theory, cognitive processes are a foundation of cognitive psychology, and beliefs in innate human tendencies relate to biological or humanistic perspectives. All of these approaches consider factors beyond observable behavior, which is the hallmark of behaviorism.