Question

A student is used to getting the attention of the teacher by making annoying sounds. One day the teacher decides to ignore the sounds by showing no reaction. Based on behavioral theory, what would be the expected outcome, assuming the teacher's attention was the reinforcer?

a.The behavior will immediately decrease in frequency, but then increase over time.
b.The behavior will be immediately extinguished.
c.The behavior will immediately increase in frequency, but then decrease over time.
d.There will be very little change, since the teacher did not apply an aversive stimulus.

Answer 1

The correct answer is C. The behavior will immediately increase in frequency, but then decrease overtime.

Step-by-step explanation:

Classical conditioning centers on the idea that an individual can develop a certain behavior through reinforcements or punishments.

In this example, the teacher's attention is the reinforcer to the student's behavior or making sounds to get it. As long as this continues, the student's behavior will stay the same.

Once the teacher decides to ignore the student, his/her behavior will increase immediately, hoping that he/she will once again obtain the reinforcement. However, overtime it will most likely decrease since the teacher will no longer be reinforcing this behavior and thus it will probably be extinguished.