Final answer:
Operant conditioning is a type of learning where an individual associates voluntary behavior with its consequences. Reinforcement increases the likelihood of repeating the behavior, while punishment decreases it.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process of learning in which the consequences of a response determine the probability that the response will be repeated is known as operant conditioning. B.F. Skinner, a prominent psychologist, thoroughly researched and expanded on this concept. Operant conditioning is distinctive because it is a form of associative learning where an individual, whether an animal or a human, learns to associate a voluntary behavior with its consequences. These consequences can either increase the likelihood of the behavior being repeated through reinforcement, or decrease the likelihood through punishment.
For instance, when a dolphin at an aquarium performs a flip upon hearing a whistle and receives a fish as a consequence, it is more likely to repeat the flip in the future, illustrating a scenario of positive reinforcement. Similarly, a dog learning to sit when offered a treat exemplifies operant conditioning, with the treat reinforcing the 'sitting' behavior.