Which one of the following is an example of vicarious punishment in operant conditioning?

• A. A child receives a treat after cleaning up their toys.
• B. A student observes a classmate being scolded for talking during a lecture and decides not to talk in class to avoid being scolded.
• C. A teenager watches a friend get praised for volunteering and chooses to volunteer as well.
• D. A dog learns to sit on command after being given a treat each time it sits.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of vicarious punishment in operant conditioning: it occurs when an individual observes another person receiving a punishment and, as a result, changes their own behavior to avoid the same punishment.
2. Review each option and identify whether the behavior change is due to direct experience or observation of consequences applied to someone else.
3. Eliminate options where the individual is directly receiving reinforcement or punishment (e.g., receiving a treat or being praised), as these are examples of direct operant conditioning, not vicarious punishment.
4. Focus on the option where the individual observes another person being punished (e.g., a classmate being scolded) and then changes their behavior to avoid that punishment, which exemplifies vicarious punishment.
5. Confirm that this option aligns with the definition of vicarious punishment by showing learning through observation of consequences applied to others rather than through direct experience.