Final answer:
Donald Meichenbaum's theory is most similar to Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), as it focuses on altering negative thought patterns to influence behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
Donald Meichenbaum is a prominent figure in the development of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT). While classical and operant conditioning, found within the paradigm of behaviorism, focus on the external stimuli and reinforcements shaping behavior, CBT is a therapeutic approach that promotes understanding and changing unhelpful cognitive distortions and behaviors. It integrates both cognitive and behavioral strategies to address a wide array of psychological issues.
Meichenbaum's work is particularly recognized for his contribution to the development of Cognitive Behavioral Modification (CBM), which is heavily cognitive in its emphasis, unlike the purely behavioral approaches of classical conditioning and operant conditioning. CBM focuses on identifying and altering negative thought patterns that influence behavior. The humanistic approach, while it emphasizes individual experience, is more about realizing one's full potential and less about the amelioration of pathology through changing cognitive and behavioral patterns, making it quite distinct from Meichenbaum's theory.
Therefore, the final answer to the question is c) Cognitive-behavioral therapy. Meichenbaum's theory is most similar to Cognitive-behavioral therapy because it emphasizes the importance of cognition (thoughts, beliefs, attitudes) in understanding and modifying behavior, which aligns with the principles of CBT.