Final answer:
Operant conditioning is a learning process where behaviors are influenced by consequences, such as reinforcement or punishment, that follow them. Behavioral contracts are specific agreements that use operant conditioning principles to encourage a target behavior by linking it to a reinforcer or a punishment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The procedure in which a contract is developed collaboratively that stipulates a certain contingency for an individual between a behavior and a reinforcer is known as a behavioral contract in the context of operant conditioning. Operant conditioning is a learning process through which the consequence of a behavior affects the likelihood of that behavior recurring. In this type of learning, a target behavior is followed by reinforcement or punishment to either strengthen or weaken it, with the ultimate goal of increasing the occurrence of desired behaviors.
An example of operant conditioning would be when a child learns to tidy up their room in exchange for extra screen time. The extra screen time acts as a positive reinforcer that increases the probability of the child repeating the tidy-up behavior. Over time, through the use of reinforcement or punishment, the behavior may become a regular pattern, also referred to as conditioned behavior.
Operant conditioning emphasizes the role of reinforcement and punishment after the behavior has been demonstrated. This form of learning is instrumental in helping individuals develop new behaviors or change existing ones, and it can be seen in everyday examples like training pets or influencing study habits in students.