In operant conditioning, reinforcers, whether positive or negative, have what effect on the probability that a behavior will occur again?

• A. Decrease
• B. No effect
• C. Cause extinction
• D. Increase

Answer: (D)

Reinforcement strengthens behavior by increasing the probability that it will be repeated. When a behavior is followed by a reinforcer—positive reinforcement adds a pleasant consequence, or negative reinforcement removes an aversive one—the organism learns that the behavior is worth repeating, so the likelihood of that behavior occurring again goes up. This differs from extinction (which happens when reinforcement is removed and the behavior decreases) and from punishment (which aims to decrease the behavior). So reinforcers increase the chance that the behavior will occur again.