According to B. F. Skinner, which of the following would be an operant?
A) swallowing
B) raising your hand when answering a question
C) a red traffic light
D) a shock

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

B.F. Skinner defined operant behavior as behavior that is followed by consequences, such as reinforcement or punishment. Raising your hand when answering a question is an example of operant behavior because it is likely to elicit a consequence, such as the teacher calling on you to answer, or receiving praise for participating in class. Swallowing and a red traffic light do not involve consequences, and a shock would be an example of classical conditioning rather than operant conditioning.