The textbook suggests that people smoke cigarettes to ease stress and to improve their mood. In the language of operant conditioning, stress relief maintains smoking through _____. An improved mood maintains smoking through _____.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Negative reinforcement is when a behavior occurs in order to remove or avoid an unpleasant consequence. Smoking to relieve stress is an example of negative reinforcement. Positive reinforcement, on the other hand, is when a behavior occurs in order to receive a pleasant consequence. Smoking to improve mood is an example of positive reinforcement. Therefore, the correct answer is B, where stress relief maintains smoking through negative reinforcement, and an improved mood maintains smoking through positive reinforcement.

The Textbook Suggests That People Smoke Cigarettes to Ease Stress