Final answer:
At intersections, obeying traffic lights is an example of stimulus control, a concept in operant conditioning where behavior is influenced by signals denoting available reinforcement. In contrast, extinction, a concept in classical conditioning, occurs when a conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus, leading to a decrease in the conditioned response. Option c) is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
At intersections, we go when the light is green, not when it is red. This is an example of stimulus control. Stimulus control in operant conditioning refers to the behavior being influenced by a stimulus that indicates that a particular reinforcement is available. In the context of an intersection, the green light serves as a discriminative stimulus signaling that it is safe to go and likely that proceeding will not be punished (e.g., by a traffic citation or an accident), whereas a red light signals the opposite.
In the case of classical conditioning, extinction occurs when there is a decrease in the conditioned response because the conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented without being paired with the unconditioned stimulus. For example, if the sound of an ice cream truck no longer leads to the purchase and consumption of an ice cream bar, the conditioned response (e.g., salivating at the sound) will decrease and eventually disappear.