Final answer:
An example of stimulus control in operant conditioning unrelated to food is the association between a car's seatbelt warning signal and the action of buckling up. The warning serves as a stimulus triggering a response, which is encouraged through negative reinforcement when the alarm ceases after the seatbelt is fastened.
Step-by-step explanation:
An example of stimulus control of an operantly conditioned behavior that does not revolve around food could be the association between a seatbelt warning light or sound in a car and the action of buckling up. This scenario involves operant conditioning where the conditioned behavior of fastening the seatbelt is modified by the consequence of the warning signal.
When a driver enters the car and starts the engine, the seatbelt light or sound is triggered (conditioned stimulus), prompting the driver (responsively trained through reinforcement) to buckle up (conditioned response) to avoid the persistent sound or light. The warning signal acts as a form of positive punishment when not obeyed, and negative reinforcement (the removal of the sound or light) when the seatbelt is fastened.
Initially, the driver may not have a habit of fastening the seatbelt, but over time, through consistent association, the driver learns that the warning signal's cessation is contingent upon buckling up. This form of stimulus control effectively shapes the behavior of wearing a seatbelt, and over prolonged periods, it can become automatic.