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_
Related questions
Children who watched an adult attack an inflatable doll copied the behaviour themselves. TMoney or stickers only reward because of what they are linked to. Such rewards are:Food and water reward without any learning behind them. Such rewards are:A gambler at a slot machine never knows how many pulls will pay. That schedule is:A picker is paid after every ten baskets filled. That schedule is:A restaurant manager drops in at unpredictable times to check the kitchen. That schedule iA worker is paid every Friday, whatever the output. That reinforcement schedule is:A trainer rewards closer and closer approximations until the full behaviour appears. That