What principle does operant conditioning focus on in behavior?

Operant conditioning is a fundamental concept in behavioral psychology, primarily associated with the work of B.F. Skinner. This principle focuses on how behavior is influenced and modified through the consequences that follow an individual's actions. The key idea is that behaviors can be strengthened or weakened based on the rewards or punishments that accompany them.

When a behavior is followed by a positive outcome or reinforcer, such as a reward, it is more likely that the individual will repeat that behavior in the future. Conversely, if a behavior is followed by a negative outcome or punishment, it is less likely that the behavior will occur again. This process aligns with the core tenet of operant conditioning, which emphasizes the role of external reinforcements and punishments in shaping behavior over time.

The other options focus on different aspects of learning and psychology that are not central to operant conditioning. For example, the relationship between stimuli and instinctual responses refers more to classical conditioning, which is based on forming associations between stimuli rather than the consequences of behavior. Unconditioned and conditioned responses also pertain to classical conditioning, emphasizing innate reactions rather than behavior modification through consequences. Lastly, the passive reception of information does not align with the active process of learning through reinforcement that operant conditioning