Question

Mrs. Washington is conducting her weekly group counseling session for single young adults. Karen, a lonely young professional woman, talks about feeling abandoned by her boyfriend. The other group members listen patiently and respond empathically. Mrs. Washington reflects Karen’s feeling with concern and sensitivity. What would operant learning theory predict about Karen’s behavior in the next group session?

Answer 1

Karen will speak openly because she has previously received attention and support.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to the operant conditioning theory, people learn based on the consequences of their actions. If they are rewarded, they tend to repeat the behavior. When they are punished, the likelihood of the behavior tends to decrease. Since Karen was rewarded with attention and support, she is more likely to keep on speaking to this group openly. Her first action of speaking has been associated with a positive feeling of being listened to and understood by others.