In one of his experiments,Skinner put several pigeons in Skinner boxes,set the food dispenser to deliver food every 15 seconds,and left the birds to their own devices.Later,he returned and found the birds engaging in odd,idiosyncratic behaviors,such as pecking aimlessly in a corner or turning in circles.Skinner referred to these behaviors as:
A)inadvertent.
B)nonsensical.
C)unexplainable.
D)superstitious.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Skinner referred to these odd, idiosyncratic behaviors exhibited by the pigeons as "superstitious." This was because the birds had associated their random behaviors with the delivery of food, even though their actions did not actually lead to the food dispenser providing food. Skinner's experiment demonstrated how conditioned behavior can become superstitious if it accidentally coincides with a desired outcome.

In One of His Experiments,Skinner Put Several Pigeons in Skinner