Which one of the following alternatives best describes instrumental conditioning?
A) Learning to use man-made tools in order to accomplish difficult tasks more easily
B) Learning to behave in ways that either bring pleasure or reduce the likelihood of aversive events
C) Learning that certain stimuli in one's environment often bring either physical or psychological pain
D) Learning complex sequences of psychomotor behaviors e.g., dribbling and then shooting a basketball)

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Instrumental conditioning (also known as operant conditioning) is a form of learning in which behavior is shaped through the consequences that follow it. In instrumental conditioning, an animal or person learns to behave in ways that either bring pleasure or reduce the likelihood of aversive events. For example, a rat in a skinner box might learn to press a lever in order to receive a food pellet or avoid an electric shock.

Which One of the Following Alternatives Best Describes Instrumental Conditioning