According to Skinner, superstitious behavior develops because of an accidental relationship between response and reinforcement.

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Skinner's theory of operant conditioning suggests that behavior is shaped and maintained through reinforcement. Superstitious behavior may develop when a particular behavior is accidentally reinforced, leading the individual to believe that there is a causal relationship between their behavior and the outcome, even if there is none. Skinner conducted experiments with animals that showed that they could develop superstitious behavior if they were reinforced at random intervals, and he applied this idea to human behavior as well.

According to Skinner, Superstitious Behavior Develops Because of an Accidental