Final answer:
Basic psychology states that rewarding an action makes it more likely to occur again, while punishment deters it. Operant conditioning, developed by B. F. Skinner, explains how behavior is a response to reinforcements and punishments, influencing future actions.
Therefore, the correct answer is All of the above.
Step-by-step explanation:
Operant Conditioning in Psychology
Basic psychology suggests that if you reward an action, it is more likely to be repeated in the future. Conversely, if you punish an action, it is more likely to be avoided. This concept is deeply rooted in the nature of humans, as they generally seek to avoid things that are considered punishment.
Operant conditioning, a concept formulated by B. F. Skinner, posits that behavior is motivated by the consequences we receive for the behavior: the reinforcements and punishments. This is an extension of the law of effect by Edward Thorndike, which asserts that satisfying consequences will likely lead to repeated behaviors, while unpleasant consequences will deter them. A pragmatic example can be found in employment, where the primary motivator for work attendance is often the payment received.
Humans, as physical beings, respond to their environment through learned behaviors stemming from a combination of genetic factors and conditioning. Operant conditioning works by following a target behavior with either reinforcement or punishment to shape future actions. Both positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement aim to increase a behavior's occurrence, while positive punishment and negative punishment aim to decrease it. Advertisers and other professionals expertly utilize these principles to influence human behavior.