In the context of behaviorism, behavioral ______ is the ability to alter behavior to adapt to new situations and social settings.

• A. reinforcement
• B. extinction
• C. flexibility
• D. conditioning

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the key concept being asked: the ability to alter behavior to adapt to new situations and social settings within behaviorism.
2. Recall that behaviorism focuses on observable behaviors and how they are learned or modified through interactions with the environment.
3. Review the given options: reinforcement (strengthening behavior), extinction (weakening behavior), conditioning (learning through association), and flexibility.
4. Identify that 'flexibility' refers to the capacity to change or adapt behavior in response to new circumstances, which fits the description of adapting behavior to new situations.
5. Conclude that the term 'behavioral flexibility' best matches the ability to alter behavior to adapt to new situations and social settings in behaviorism.