Tommy has obsessions about cleanliness and is a compulsive hand-washer.Which of the following pieces of evidence would support the view that his obsessive-compulsive disorder is related to operant conditioning?

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Operant conditioning involves learning from the consequences of one's behavior. In this case, Tommy's hand-washing behavior is reinforced by the reduction in anxiety he experiences after washing his hands. This reinforcement strengthens the behavior, making it more likely that he will engage in it again in the future. Punishment (choice A) has not been effective in reducing his behavior, which suggests that a different type of learning is at work. Observational learning (choice B) could be a factor in Tommy's behavior, but it is not specifically related to operant conditioning. Finally, reading a sign (choice D) is an example of classical conditioning, which involves learning associations between stimuli, rather than learning from consequences.

Tommy Has Obsessions About Cleanliness and Is a Compulsive Hand-Washer