Question

Playing the slots at a casino works on a ________ reinforcement schedule.

1) fixed interval
2) fixed ratio
3) variable ratio
4) variable interval

Answer 1

Casino slot machines operate on a variable ratio reinforcement schedule, where the number of responses before a reward varies, leading to high engagement and resistance to extinction.

Step-by-step explanation:

Playing the slots at a casino operates on a variable ratio reinforcement schedule. This type of schedule is when the number of responses required for a reward varies and is unpredictable, which can lead to a high and steady response rate due to the unpredictability of the reinforcement. It is the most powerful type of partial reinforcement and is extremely resistant to extinction.

This is exemplified by the behavior of gamblers who continue to play slot machines because they never know when the next payoff will come, making this form of gambling highly addictive.