According to B. F. Skinner, the frequency of a behavior can be increased by following it with a wide variety of
A) punishments.
B) negative stimuli.
C) stimulus-response associations.
D) reinforcers.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to B.F. Skinner's theory of operant conditioning, behavior can be strengthened or increased through the use of positive reinforcement, or reinforcers. These reinforcers can be anything from food or praise to money or social approval. The key is that the behavior is followed by a rewarding consequence, which increases the likelihood of that behavior being repeated in the future. Punishments and negative stimuli are not effective in increasing behavior frequency, as they focus on decreasing or punishing unwanted behaviors rather than promoting desired ones. Stimulus-response associations are a general concept in learning theory, but do not necessarily lead to behavior increase.