Final answer:
A rat pressing a lever to avoid a shock or loud tone is an example of operant conditioning, where the rat learns to associate a specific behavior with a consequence.
Step-by-step explanation:
A rat pressing a lever to terminate a shock or a loud tone is an example of operant conditioning. This form of learning, based on the work of B.F. Skinner, involves an organism learning to associate a voluntary behavior with its consequences through reinforcement or punishment. A rat in a Skinner box eventually learns that pressing a lever results in food, which proves to be a positive reinforcement, increasing the likelihood that the rat will repeat the lever-pressing behavior in the future. In contrast, classical conditioning involves associating an involuntary response with a stimulus, and habituation involves a reduction in response to a stimulus after repeated exposure without any associated reward or punishment.