Final answer:
The theory in question is operant conditioning, developed by B. F. Skinner, which involves learning through the consequences of behavior, with reinforcement and punishment guiding the likelihood of future responses.
Step-by-step explanation:
The theory that incorporates the AaBC model of instruction, consisting of an antecedent or stimulus, target behavior or response, and consequences of reinforcement, is known as operant conditioning. This form of learning asserts that the motivation for a behavior occurs after the behavior itself, wherein an individual receives a consequence that could be either reinforcement or punishment. Operant conditioning was developed by psychologist B. F. Skinner and is based on the principles of the law of effect, which determine that behaviors followed by pleasant consequences are likely to be repeated, while those followed by unpleasant consequences are less likely to be repeated.
Examples of operant conditioning include an animal in a Skinner box learning to press a lever to obtain food, or a child learning to put away toys to receive a bedtime story. Both instances illustrate how behaviors are learned and modified by rewarding or punishing consequences, leading to an increase or decrease in the specific behavior.
In operant conditioning, reinforcement can be positive or negative, both serving to increase the likelihood of a behavioral response, while punishment also can be positive or negative, both aimed at decreasing the likelihood of a behavior.