Question

What is correct about Operant conditioning?
A. The goal is to increase the rate of an already occurring response.
B. Responses are voluntary.
C. Responses are involuntary and reflexive.
D. Reinforcement must be immediate.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

• A. A, B and D only
• B. A, B and C only
• C. A, B, C and D
• D. B, C and D only

Hint:

Remember the acronym {VCR} for operant conditioning: {V}oluntary action followed by a {C}onsequence (Reinforcement/Punishment). This helps distinguish it from the involuntary, reflexive nature of classical conditioning.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question requires identifying the core principles of B.F. Skinner's theory of operant conditioning.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
A. The goal is to increase the rate of an already occurring response. This is a key goal of reinforcement in operant conditioning. A reinforcer is any event that strengthens or increases the frequency of a preceding response. This statement is correct.
B. Responses are voluntary. This is a fundamental distinction between operant and classical conditioning. Operant conditioning involves learning to associate a voluntary action with a consequence. This statement is correct.
C. Responses are involuntary and reflexive. This describes classical conditioning, where an organism learns to associate a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus that naturally elicits a reflexive response. This statement is incorrect.
D. Reinforcement must be immediate. For conditioning to be most effective, the reinforcement should follow the desired behavior as quickly as possible. This principle is known as immediate reinforcement. While learning can occur with delayed reinforcement, immediacy is a crucial principle for efficiency. This statement is considered correct in the context of foundational principles.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Statements A, B, and D are correct descriptions of operant conditioning principles, while C describes classical conditioning. Therefore, the correct combination is A, B, and D.