A rat in a Skinner Box learns that a red light comes on just before a shock is presented. What is a rat demonstrating if it learns to bar-press when the light comes on, in order to prevent a shock from happening?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The rat is demonstrating avoidance learning, which is the process of learning to perform a behavior in order to prevent an aversive stimulus (in this case, the shock) from occurring. By bar-pressing when the light comes on, the rat is avoiding the shock.

A Rat in a Skinner Box Learns That a Red