Which of the following best illustrates operant conditioning according to Skinner?
A)A dog salivates at the sound of a dinner bell.
B)A cat comes running when it hears the sound of the can opener.
C)A dolphin is given a fish every time it jumps through a hoop.
D)The mating behavior of salmon.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In operant conditioning, behavior is strengthened or weakened by the consequences that follow it. This is demonstrated in choice C where the dolphin is given a fish every time it performs a specific behavior (jumping through a hoop), which increases the likelihood that it will repeat this behavior again in the future. The other choices (A, B, D) are examples of classical conditioning, which involves pairing a previously neutral stimulus with a stimulus that naturally elicits a response to eventually elicit the same response to the previously neutral stimulus alone.

Which of the Following Best Illustrates Operant Conditioning According to Skinner