Behaviorists believe learning occurs as a result of what?

• A. Genetic maturation
• B. Rewards and punishments
• C. Innate instincts
• D. Free will

Answer: (B)

Behaviorists view learning as a change in behavior driven by the consequences that follow actions in the environment. When a behavior is followed by a reward, its likelihood of happening again increases; when it’s followed by punishment or the removal of a desirable outcome, it tends to decrease. This approach, known as operant conditioning, focuses on observable actions and how environmental controls shape them rather than on internal thoughts or biology.

Genetic maturation describes biological development, not how new behaviors are learned through consequences. Innate instincts refer to inborn patterns that aren’t the result of environmental reinforcement. Free will implies voluntary choice, which behaviorists don’t emphasize as the mechanism for learning. Hence, rewards and punishments best explain how learning occurs in the behavioral framework.