Operant Conditioning is a concept from B.F. Skinner that states that behaviors of an active organism are controlled and controllable, even without consequences each time.

• A. A concept stating that behavior is controlled and controllable, even without consequences each time.
• B. An approach that suggests behavior cannot be changed without direct rewards every time.
• C. A theory that unconscious desires drive behavior.
• D. A method of teaching that uses punishment exclusively.

Answer: (A)

Operant conditioning is about voluntary behavior being shaped by its consequences. Skinner showed that actions followed by reinforcing outcomes tend to be repeated, while those followed by unpleasant outcomes become less likely. A key point is that learning doesn’t require a consequence every single time; intermittent reinforcement can still strengthen or weaken behavior over time, making it controllable by the environment’s contingencies.

That’s why the statement describing operant conditioning as behavior that is controlled and controllable, even without consequences each time, fits best. It contrasts with ideas that behavior can only change with a reward every time, with notions that behavior is driven by unconscious desires, or with teaching methods that rely exclusively on punishment.