Question

Explain Skinner's distinction between respondent and operant behavior.

a) Respondent behavior is involuntary, while operant behavior is voluntary.
b) Respondent behavior is learned through consequences, while operant behavior is automatic.
c) Respondent behavior is intentional, while operant behavior is reflexive.
d) Respondent behavior is conditioned, while operant behavior is unconditioned.

Answer 1

Skinner's distinction between respondent and operant behavior is that respondent behavior is involuntary, while operant behavior is voluntary. Respondent behavior is a reflexive response to a stimulus, while operant behavior is learned through consequences and is voluntary.

Step-by-step explanation:

Skinner's Distinction between Respondent and Operant Behavior

Skinner's distinction between respondent and operant behavior is that respondent behavior is involuntary, while operant behavior is voluntary. In respondent behavior, an organism responds reflexively to a stimulus, such as a dog salivating at the sight of food. On the other hand, operant behavior is learned through consequences and is voluntary, meaning the organism actively engages in a behavior to receive a desired outcome or avoid an undesirable one.

For example, in operant conditioning, an animal may learn to press a lever to receive a treat. The animal's voluntary action of pressing the lever is the operant behavior, and the treat it receives is the consequence that reinforces the behavior. In contrast, a dog salivating at the sight of food without any learned association is an example of respondent behavior.