Final answer:
Ideal operant conditioning is achieved through highly desirable reinforcers such as a person's favorite dessert and leveraging behaviors an animal is evolutionarily predisposed to engage in. Less optimal are neutral or overly difficult reinforcers, or those that are impractical.
Step-by-step explanation:
In operant conditioning, optimal learning occurs when the reinforcement provided is considered highly desirable and aligned with the individual's preference or needs. The elements that would contribute to ideal conditions for operant conditioning are:
- c. Providing the person's favorite dessert as a reinforcer - This ensures that the reinforcement is highly valued by the person, increasing the likelihood of the behavior being repeated.
- d. Teaching a behavior that the animal is evolutionarily predisposed to engage in - Leveraging natural behaviors can facilitate faster learning since the behavior is more instinctive and therefore easier to elicit and reinforce.
Option a, providing food that the individual does not mind, may not be as effective as their favorite dessert, because it might not be as motivating. Option b, offering a quarter of a million dollars for running a marathon, while potentially motivational, may be impractical and not directly linked to the action at a granular level and possible only for a one-time event. Lastly, option e, teaching an animal to perform a behavior that is very difficult, may hinder the learning process, as it could cause frustration and reduce motivation.