Which psychologist expanded on operant conditioning and is associated with behaviorist theory?

Which psychologist expanded on operant conditioning and is associated with behaviorist theory?

• A. B.F. Skinner
• B. Noam Chomsky
• C. Jean Piaget
• D. Vygotsky

Answer: (A)

Operant conditioning is about how behavior is shaped by the consequences that follow it. B.F. Skinner expanded this idea by showing that reinforcement and punishment determine how likely a behavior is to occur again. Through experiments with animals in Skinner boxes, he demonstrated how rewards (and the removal of aversive stimuli) strengthen responses, while punishments reduce them. He also introduced reinforcement schedules, which explain how the timing and frequency of rewards influence learning and persistence. This focus on observable behavior and environmental effects sits at the heart of behaviorist theory, setting Skinner apart as the key figure associated with expanding operant conditioning. The other thinkers contributed to different areas—Chomsky with language and critique of behaviorism, Piaget with stages of cognitive development, and Vygotsky with social and cultural aspects of learning—so they aren’t the ones linked to extending operant conditioning.

Operant conditioning is about how behavior is shaped by the consequences that follow it. B.F. Skinner expanded this idea by showing that reinforcement and punishment determine how likely a behavior is to occur again. Through experiments with animals in Skinner boxes, he demonstrated how rewards (and the removal of aversive stimuli) strengthen responses, while punishments reduce them. He also introduced reinforcement schedules, which explain how the timing and frequency of rewards influence learning and persistence. This focus on observable behavior and environmental effects sits at the heart of behaviorist theory, setting Skinner apart as the key figure associated with expanding operant conditioning. The other thinkers contributed to different areas—Chomsky with language and critique of behaviorism, Piaget with stages of cognitive development, and Vygotsky with social and cultural aspects of learning—so they aren’t the ones linked to extending operant conditioning.