Which term describes a behavior that is under stimulus control and shaped by consequences?

• A. Operant behavior
• B. Respondent behavior
• C. Latent behavior
• D. Reflexive behavior

Answer: (A)

Operant behavior is the kind of behavior that is controlled by both the presence of specific stimuli (discriminative stimuli signaling reinforcement is available) and by the consequences that follow the behavior. It is emitted by the organism, and its future frequency is shaped up or down by reinforcement or punishment. This combination—being under stimulus control and being shaped by consequences—is the defining feature of operant behavior.

Respondent behavior, on the other hand, is elicited by antecedent stimuli and occurs automatically, not because of the consequences that follow. Latent behavior isn’t a standard term for this context, and reflexive behavior refers to automatic, involuntary responses that aren’t typically shaped by contingencies in the same way as operant actions.