Question

Barbara and Stanley are training their new puppy to use the bathroom outside. Every time he successfully does so, he gets a treat. They notice that his inside accidents are decreasing, and he is quickly learning what he is supposed to do. This demonstrates the use of:

a) Classical conditioning
b) Extinction
c) Operant conditioning
d) Habituation

Answer 1

The training of the new puppy to use the bathroom outside and receive a treat for successfully doing so demonstrates operant conditioning, where behaviors are strengthened or weakened by their consequences.

Step-by-step explanation:

In this scenario, the training of the new puppy to use the bathroom outside and receive a treat for successfully doing so demonstrates operant conditioning. Operant conditioning is a type of learning where behaviors are strengthened or weakened by their consequences.

Unlike classical conditioning, which involves associating two stimuli, operant conditioning focuses on associating a behavior with its consequences. In this case, the puppy learns that going to the bathroom outside leads to receiving a treat, which reinforces the behavior and increases the likelihood of it happening again.

Operant conditioning is also used in training animals to perform tricks. For example, when a pet owner trains a dog to sit by giving it a treat every time it sits on command, the dog learns to associate sitting with the consequence of receiving a treat, and this reinforces the behavior.