Michael's parents want him to learn to play tennis. Michael has no particular interest in the game. From an operant conditioning perspective, Michael may learn the game if his parents are insistent, but __________
A) it will take him longer to learn the game than it would if he were interested.
B) he will not become proficient at the game.
C) he will also learn to resent his parents.
D) he will not enjoy playing tennis with others.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The operant conditioning theory suggests that behavior is strengthened by positive reinforcement or punishments. In the case of Michael, if his parents are insistent, they may use reinforcement techniques to encourage him to play tennis. However, since Michael does not have any particular interest in the game, it may take him longer to learn and become proficient than someone who is genuinely interested.

Michael's Parents Want Him to Learn to Play Tennis