Mrs.Washington is conducting her weekly group counseling session for single young adults.Karen,a lonely young professional woman,talks about feeling abandoned by her boyfriend.The other group members listen patiently and respond empathically.Mrs.Washington reflects Karen's feeling with concern and sensitivity.What would operant learning theory predict about Karen's behavior in the next group session?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to operant learning theory, behavior is shaped by consequences that follow it. Karen has previously received attention and support from the group members, and Mrs. Washington has shown concern and sensitivity towards her. This positive reinforcement is likely to increase the probability of Karen's self-disclosure in the future group sessions. Therefore, Karen will speak openly because she has previously received attention and support.

MrsWashington Is Conducting Her Weekly Group Counseling Session for Single