Final answer:
Adults only cussing in certain settings is an example of stimulus control within operant conditioning, which is a learning process affected by the consequences of behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
The scenario described where adults learn to use cuss/swear words only in settings where it is socially reinforced is an example of stimulus control. Stimulus control is part of operant conditioning, a form of learning where behaviors are influenced by the consequences that follow them. This concept, formulated by B.F. Skinner, delineates how behaviors are more likely to be repeated if they produce favorable outcomes. In the same vein, behaviors might be suppressed if they result in negative outcomes, or are not appropriate to the setting.
Adults using cuss words in socially acceptable environments illustrates that their behavior has been shaped by their understanding of where such language is considered permissible and likely to be reinforced either through social acceptance or lack of negative repercussions.
Moreover, the process involves a discriminative stimulus that signals when a particular response will lead to reinforcement. In this case, the social setting acts as a discriminative stimulus, indicating to the individual whether the use of swear words will be reinforced or not.