ASWB LCSW Social Work Clinical Practice Exam

Operant conditioning is the correct answer because it refers to a learning process where behavior is shaped and maintained by its consequences. In operant conditioning, behaviors that are followed by positive reinforcement tend to be repeated, while those that are followed by punishment or negative consequences are less likely to occur. This type of conditioning is integral to understanding how behavior can be modified and is widely used in various therapeutic approaches, including behavior modification techniques.

In contrast, classical conditioning is a learning process where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a meaningful stimulus, eliciting a conditioned response. This type of learning focuses on the association between stimuli rather than consequences of behavior. Observational learning involves acquiring new behaviors by watching others, emphasizing modeling rather than direct reinforcement. Imprinting is a rapid learning process occurring at a specific life stage, typically seen in some animal species, and does not involve the same systematic approach to learning through consequences as operant conditioning.