Which one of the following examples best illustrates the concept of baseline as behaviorists use the term?
A) Louisa likes the attention she gets from boys when she wears tight sweaters.
B) Justin talks in class all the time, even though his teacher and classmates do nothing to encourage him.
C) Dimitri is afraid of the school swimming pool after he almost drowns in it during a swimming lesson.
D) Marsha starts copying her best friend's homework assignments regularly after she finds out that she gets better grades if she does so.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A baseline refers to the rate or frequency of a behavior before any intervention or manipulation is introduced. In this case, Justin's talking in class is a behavior that occurs regardless of any encouragement or reinforcement from others, making it a good example of a baseline behavior. The other options involve behaviors that are influenced by external factors or contingencies, which would not accurately represent a baseline.

Which One of the Following Examples Best Illustrates the Concept