In operant conditioning, learning is defined as?

• A. A form of learning that occurs by observing others' behavior
• B. A type of learning in which rewards and punishments shape behavior, but not necessarily through reinforcement
• C. Learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by reinforcement or diminished if followed by punishment; behavior is shaped by its consequences
• D. A behavior that is natural and automatic

Answer: (C)

Operant conditioning is about learning from consequences. When a behavior is followed by reinforcement, the likelihood of that behavior happening again increases; when it’s followed by punishment, the likelihood decreases. This idea—that consequences shape how often a behavior occurs—captures the essence of the learning process. Observational learning involves learning by watching others, not by the consequences of one’s own actions. Learning that isn’t driven by reinforcement doesn’t fit operant conditioning, and natural automatic behaviors aren’t considered a type of learned behavior.