What is the theory of B.F. Skinner?

• A. Learning occurs solely through genetic predispositions.
• B. The belief that all behavior is unconscious.
• C. The theory of cognitive maps.
• D. The idea that learning is a function of change through one's own behavior.

Answer: (D)

Skinner's theory describes operant conditioning: learning happens when the consequences that follow a dog's behavior change how likely that behavior is to occur in the future. When a desired behavior is rewarded, it becomes more probable; when an undesired behavior is followed by punishment or no reinforcement, it becomes less probable. This emphasizes learning through the dog’s own actions and the outcomes they produce, rather than through genetics alone, unconscious drives, or internal mental maps. In practice, this is the foundation of how we shape and reinforce behavior in training working dogs—using rewards to strengthen desired actions and carefully designed consequences to reduce unwanted ones.