LEAPS Skill Acquisition Practice Exam

The selected answer illustrates the concept of positive reinforcement effectively. Positive reinforcement occurs when a behavior is followed by a stimulus that increases the likelihood of that behavior being repeated in the future. In this scenario, when a person plays the guitar and receives cheers from the audience, the applause serves as a positive stimulus. The positive feedback (cheers) reinforces the behavior of playing the guitar, making it more likely that the individual will continue to engage in this behavior in the future.

This scenario highlights the essential aspect of positive reinforcement: the enhancement of a behavior through rewarding stimuli. When a behavior is followed by something that is perceived as positive, in this case, the cheers and encouragement from the audience, it creates an association that boosts the frequency of that behavior.

In contrast, other scenarios do not exemplify positive reinforcement. Covering ears to stop a sound or closing a window to block cold air represent avoidance behaviors rather than reinforcement. These actions are responses aimed at stopping unpleasant stimuli without enhancing a particular behavior through a positive outcome. The scenario where playing is weakened despite cheers indicates that the cheers do not foster a repeat of the guitar playing, which is contrary to the principles of positive reinforcement.