Final answer:
Shaping, a method within operant conditioning, is the best way to teach a cat to turn on the lights by rewarding successive approximations of the behavior until the desired action is achieved.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question you've asked is about how to teach a cat to turn on the living room lights. The best method to accomplish this is through shaping. Shaping is a psychological methodology within operant conditioning used to train an animal or person to perform a complex behavior by reinforcing successive approximations of the target behavior.
Positive reinforcement in behavioral psychology involves adding a desirable stimulus to increase a behavior. In the context of teaching a cat to turn on a light, this could involve offering a treat or praise every time the cat gets closer to the desired action, like touching the light switch, until the full behavior is achieved.
Therefore, the correct answer to the question is d. shaping. By utilizing this method, any complex behavior can be taught in manageable steps, which is more effective and less stressful for the animal than using punishment or negative reinforcement that often leads to avoidance behaviors