Final answer:
Children modifying their motor behavior based on sensory feedback exemplifies Sensory Integration Theory, which involves processing sensory stimuli and associating them with learned behaviors to coordinate complex movements.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process by which children use the sensory feedback they receive when they try different movements to gradually modify their motor behavior in adaptive ways illustrates C) Sensory integration theory. This theory involves comparing motor commands and sensory feedback to refine motor skills. During the sensorimotor stage, which is the first stage in Piaget's theory of cognitive development, a child learns about the world through their senses and motor behavior. Furthermore, the integration of sensory stimuli involves processing visual information, associating sensory stimuli with learned behavior, and coordinating complex movements. In this context, integration is the communication of stimuli received by sensory structures to the nervous system, where it is processed, and a specific, often adaptive, motor response is generated as a result.
For instance, when a child learns to walk, sensory feedback from their muscles and joints (proprioception) is crucial in modifying and perfecting their movements. As they continue to attempt standing and walking, their motor development evolves from reflexive reactions to more advanced motor functioning. This adaptive process is at the heart of sensory integration theory and is separate from concepts such as operant conditioning or social learning theory.