Introductory Psychology CLEP Prep Practice Exam

Which of the following represents an example of operant conditioning?

1. Dogs trained to respond to voice commands

2. Children learning to throw a ball

3. Infants learning to crawl

4. Babies forming emotional bonds

The correct answer is: Dogs trained to respond to voice commands

Operant conditioning is a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened or weakened based on the consequences that follow it. This means that a particular behavior is more likely to be repeated if it is followed by a positive consequence, such as a reward, and less likely to be repeated if it is followed by a negative consequence, such as a punishment. Options B, C, and D do not involve a consequence-based learning process. Children learning to throw a ball likely involves imitation and practice, while infants learning to crawl is a natural developmental process and emotional bonding in babies is a result of social interactions and attachment. Only option A involves a deliberate training process that reinforces desired behavior through positive consequences, making it an example of operant conditioning.