What is the central premise of operant conditioning?

• A. Consequences follow the behavior and shape it
• B. Unconscious drives determine behavior
• C. Behavior is random and unlearned
• D. Behavior is inherited

Answer: (A)

Consequence shapes behavior. In operant conditioning, what happens after a behavior determines how likely that behavior is to happen again. A rewarding outcome following a behavior makes it more likely to recur, while an unpleasant consequence makes it less likely. This focus on repeatable actions and their environmental consequences, rather than hidden motives or genetics, is what defines operant conditioning. For example, praise or a treat after a task increases the chance the task will be done again, while losing a privilege after misbehavior can reduce that behavior. The other ideas describe different theories—unconscious drives, behavior without learning, or inheritance—rather than how consequences shape voluntary actions.