Which of the following individuals believed that cognition was an important part of behavior?

• A. B. F. Skinner
• B. Edward Thorndike
• C. John Watson
• D. Martin Seligman

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Begin by understanding the key figures in psychology mentioned in the problem: B. F. Skinner, Edward Thorndike, John Watson, and Martin Seligman.
2. Recognize that B. F. Skinner, Edward Thorndike, and John Watson are primarily associated with behaviorism, a school of thought that emphasizes observable behaviors over internal mental processes.
3. Understand that behaviorism, particularly in its early forms, often downplayed or ignored the role of cognition in behavior, focusing instead on stimulus-response relationships.
4. Identify Martin Seligman as a psychologist who is known for his work on learned helplessness and positive psychology, both of which incorporate cognitive processes as central elements.
5. Conclude that Martin Seligman is the individual among the options who believed that cognition was an important part of behavior, as his theories integrate cognitive aspects into understanding human behavior.