According to Skinner, personality traits are the result of which of the following?

• A. unconscious conflicts and childhood experiences
• B. learned patterns of behavior shaped by reinforcement and punishment
• C. self-actualization and personal growth
• D. biological predispositions and genetic inheritance

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that B.F. Skinner's theory is rooted in behaviorism, which emphasizes observable behaviors rather than internal mental states.
2. Recall that Skinner believed personality traits develop through interactions with the environment, specifically through learning processes.
3. Identify that Skinner's concept of operant conditioning explains how behaviors are shaped by consequences, such as reinforcement (which increases behavior) and punishment (which decreases behavior).
4. Recognize that, according to Skinner, personality traits are essentially learned patterns of behavior that have been reinforced or punished over time.
5. Eliminate options that focus on unconscious conflicts, self-actualization, or biological factors, as these are not central to Skinner's behaviorist perspective.