Question

With which statement would B.F. Skinner most likely agree?

a. All learning is observable.
b. Cognition plays an important role in learning.
c. Baby Albert thought the white rat meant the loud noise would sound.
d. Pavlov's dog learned to expect that food would follow the bell.

Answer 1

B.F. Skinner would agree with the statement 'a. All learning is observable.' as he was a staunch behaviorist who focused on observable behavior and dismissed the role of cognition in learning.

Step-by-step explanation:

With which statement would B.F. Skinner most likely agree? Of the given options, B.F. Skinner would most likely agree with 'a. All learning is observable.' Skinner was a behaviorist who believed in studying observable behavior rather than cognitive processes. He considered the mind a "black box" and focused exclusively on how behavior was affected by external stimuli, which is a concept known as radical behaviorism. Therefore, Skinner would agree that all learning is observable because he does not consider cognition to have a role in learning.

Options b and c imply a role for cognition, which is contrary to Skinner's beliefs. As for option d, although it describes classical conditioning, a concept studied by behaviorists, it suggests that Pavlov's dog 'learned to expect,' which implies a cognitive understanding that Skinner would not support. Skinner's focus was on operant conditioning, not Pavlov's classical conditioning.

Albert Bandura proposed observational learning (Answer to reference question 16), which encompasses cognitive processes in learning, and which Skinner would not agree with as he was a strict behaviorist.