Final answer:
The testing principle being applied when increasing testing efforts in areas with initially high defect rates is that defects cluster together, which supports targeted testing for improved software reliability.
Step-by-step explanation:
When more testing is directed to areas of the system that initially found more defects than average, the testing principle being applied is that defects cluster together. This principle acknowledges that defects in software are often not randomly distributed, but tend to be found in clusters. This could be due to a variety of factors such as complexity, usage patterns, or common errors in a particular area of the code. By focusing additional testing efforts on these defect-prone areas, the likelihood of finding and fixing more bugs increases, resulting in a more reliable software system.