Question

A rat in a Skinner box is reinforced with a food pellet only if the rat moves close to the lever. Next reinforcement is withheld until the rat stands on its hind legs, then until the rat touches the lever, and finally, until the rat presses the lever. This example best illustrates______

a.latent learning
b.shaping
c.modeling
d.generalization

Answer 1

This example best illustrates shaping.

Step-by-step explanation:

Shpaing is a strategy often used in operant conditioning. It aims to increase the appearance of a desired behavior, but instead of rewarding only when the desired behavior occurs, it reinforces every behavior that will eventually lead to the desired one.

In this case Skinner reinforced the rat every time it got closer to the behavior he wanted to see, which was to see it press the lever, and not just when it eventually pressed it. This strategy facilitates the learning process and is often used in different fields such as in animal training.

Answer 2

A

Step-by-step explanation:

latent learning, through the repetition and step-by-step procedures.