According to the principle of natural selection, some individuals within a species have adapted to develop reproductive advantage, thus making it more likely that their genes will be transmitted to future generations. How is instrumental conditioning analogous to natural selection?
A) Like natural selection, instrumental conditioning proposes that behaviors that lead to positive outcomes are selected for.
B) Like natural selection, instrumental conditioning proposes that genes are ultimately responsible for deciding which types of things animals find reinforcing.
C) Thorndike was a strong proponent of Darwin's theory.
D) Like natural selection, instrumental conditioning proposes that reinforcement is always subjectively pleasant.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Both natural selection and instrumental conditioning involve a selection process where certain traits/behaviors that lead to positive outcomes are favored and increase in frequency over time. In instrumental conditioning, behaviors that are reinforced are more likely to be repeated in the future. Both processes rely on the principle that successful outcomes increase the likelihood of future success.

According to the Principle of Natural Selection, Some Individuals Within