Theory of Personality (D564) Practice Exam

According to Skinner's theory of operant conditioning, what best describes positive reinforcement?

1. Adding a stimulus to increase the likelihood of a behavior

2. Removing a stimulus to decrease the likelihood of a behavior

3. Adding a stimulus to decrease the likelihood of a behavior

4. Removing a stimulus to increase the likelihood of a behavior

The correct answer is: Adding a stimulus to increase the likelihood of a behavior

Positive reinforcement is a fundamental concept in Skinner's theory of operant conditioning. It refers to the process of adding a desirable stimulus following a behavior, which subsequently increases the likelihood that the behavior will occur again in the future. For example, if a student receives praise or a reward for completing their homework, the positive feedback serves to reinforce the behavior of doing homework. The addition of the pleasant stimulus (praise or reward) strengthens the connection between the behavior (homework completion) and the outcome (positive reinforcement), making the student more likely to repeat that behavior. Other options describe different processes in operant conditioning, such as negative reinforcement, which involves removing an aversive stimulus to increase a behavior, or punishment, which aims to decrease a behavior by introducing or removing stimuli in specific ways. However, positive reinforcement distinctly focuses on the addition of a stimulus to encourage behavior, highlighting its importance in learning and behavior modification.