Bob tends to hang around a coffee shop that is frequented by a woman to whom he is very attracted, even when he knows for certain that she will not be there. This behavior pattern is most similar to the phenomenon of:
A) schedule-induced behavior.
B) sign tracking.
C) dishabituation.
D) instinctive drift.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Bob's behavior is most similar to sign tracking, where an organism follows or approaches a stimulus that signals the availability of a primary reinforcer, even in the absence of the primary reinforcer itself. In this case, the coffee shop acts as the stimulus associated with the presence of the woman he is attracted to, leading him to frequent the location even when she is not there.

Bob Tends to Hang Around a Coffee Shop That Is