Which programming approach was initially introduced in Smalltalk during the 1970s and 80s?

The programming approach that was initially introduced in Smalltalk during the 1970s and 80s is Object-Oriented Programming (OOP). OOP is a programming paradigm that uses "objects" to represent data and methods. In this context, an object encapsulates data and the functions or procedures that operate on that data, which allows for a more modular and reusable code structure.

Smalltalk was revolutionary for its time, as it was one of the first programming languages to fully embrace OOP principles. These principles include encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism, which enable developers to create objects that can interact with one another. This approach was a significant shift from previously dominant paradigms, such as procedural programming, which emphasized a sequence of procedures to perform tasks.

The development of Smalltalk and its demonstration of OOP principles helped to popularize this paradigm, influencing many other programming languages that followed. Users began adopting OOP methodologies for their ability to create clear abstractions and reduce complexity in software design.