Question

What are the three conditions under which differential reinforcement is most likely to occur?

1) When the behavior is reinforced consistently
2) When the behavior is reinforced immediately
3) When the reinforcement is delivered at a high rate
4) When the reinforcement is delivered at a low rate

Answer 1

In operant conditioning, differential reinforcement is most likely to occur when the behavior is reinforced consistently, immediately, and at a high rate.

Step-by-step explanation:

In operant conditioning, the three conditions under which differential reinforcement is most likely to occur are:

1. When the behavior is reinforced consistently: Reinforcing a behavior consistently increases the likelihood of that behavior being repeated. For example, if a student receives praise every time they raise their hand in class, they are more likely to continue raising their hand.
2. When the behavior is reinforced immediately: Providing reinforcement immediately after a desired behavior increases the association between the behavior and the consequence. For instance, if a dog is given a treat immediately after sitting, it will learn to associate sitting with receiving a treat.
3. When the reinforcement is delivered at a high rate: Delivering reinforcement at a high rate, such as providing frequent rewards for correct answers in a game, can increase the likelihood of the behavior being repeated.