Which of the following best defines an operant in operant conditioning?
AA reflex response automatically elicited by a specific stimulus
BA voluntary response emitted by the organism, under its control
CA passive sensation triggered by an unconditioned stimulus
DA repressed memory pushed below conscious awareness
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. A voluntary response emitted by the organism, under its control
1. Skinner studied voluntary responses by which an organism operates on the environment.
2. He called such responses operants.
3. The chapter defines operants as behaviours emitted by animals and humans voluntarily.
4. They are under the control of the organism, not automatically triggered by a stimulus.
5. Distractor 2 describes a respondent or reflex, which is the classical-conditioning unit, not operant.
6. Hence an operant is a voluntary organism-controlled response.
_Source: NCERT Class 11 Psychology Ch 5 "Learning", p. 81, Operant/Instrumental Conditioning_
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