Question

In the context of operant conditioning, which of the following statements is true of reinforcement?

1) Reinforcement increases the likelihood of a behavior occurring again
2) Reinforcement decreases the likelihood of a behavior occurring again
3) Reinforcement has no effect on the likelihood of a behavior occurring again
4) Reinforcement only applies to positive behaviors

Answer 1

Reinforcement in operant conditioning increases the likelihood that a behavior will occur again, with positive reinforcement adding a pleasant stimulus and negative reinforcement removing an unwanted one.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the context of operant conditioning, reinforcement increases the likelihood of a behavior occurring again. This principle is founded on the work of B. F. Skinner and is a key component of operant conditioning, a form of learning where behaviors are influenced by their consequences. Reinforcement serves to strengthen behavior, and it can be either positive or negative. Positive reinforcement involves adding a desirable stimulus to increase a behavior, such as giving a dog a treat for sitting. On the other hand, negative reinforcement involves removing an aversive stimulus when the desired behavior occurs, like taking pain away when a person takes medication. Both forms of reinforcement aim to increase the frequency of the behavior they follow.