Behaviorism focuses on observable behavior rather than integral thoughts or emotions. Learning is viewed as change in behavior caused by external stimuli and responses. The mind is often treated as a "black box" - only inputs (stimuli) and outputs (behaviors) are studied.

The Major Principles include:

1. Stimulus-Response (S-R) Learning. Learning happens when a specific stimulus produces a predictable response.

2. Reinforcement. Positive reinforcement means adding something pleasant to increase a behavior while, negative reinforcement connotes removing something unpleasant to increase a behavior.

3. Punishment. Positve and negative punishments mean either adding or removing something pleasant or unpleasant to decrease or increase a behavior.

4. Extinction. When reinforcement stops, the learned behavior eventually weakens and disappears.

5. Generalization and Discriminaion. Generalization means similar stimuli trigger the same response whereas distinguishing between similar stimuli to respond differently means discrimination.

Some of behaviorism's educational applications are as follows:

a. Direct instruction with clear objectives and repetition.

b. Drill and practice to reinforce desired responses.

c. Immediate feedback to strengthen correct behaviors.

d. Behavioral Modification programs using rewards and consequences.

e. Token economies in classrooms to motivate learning

Behaviorism laid the foundation for Cognitive-behavioral approaches, Programmed instruction and teaching machines, and modern classroom management systems.

The following are the Key Contributors of Behaviorism Learning Theory:

1. Ivan Pavlov - Classical Conditioning - learning through association.

2. John Watson - Founded behaviorism which emphasized scientific study of observable behavior.

3. B.F. Skinner - Operant Conditioning - learning through consequences (reinforcement and punishment)

4. Edward Thorndike - Law of Effect - behaviors followed by satisfaction are more likely to recur.