Every time 10-month-old Rita eats a pea, her father claps and says, "Good girl!" In response to her father's praise, Rita excitedly eats the remaining peas. Rita's behavior is an example of

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Rita's behavior of eating the remaining peas is a consequence of her father's praise, which is a form of positive reinforcement in operant conditioning. She is learning that her behavior (eating the peas) leads to a desirable outcome (her father's praise), and therefore she is more likely to repeat this behavior in the future.

Every Time 10-Month-Old Rita Eats a Pea, Her Father Claps