What psychological concept explains the learning process involving reinforcement associated with behaviors?

The concept that specifically addresses the learning process involving reinforcement associated with behaviors is operant conditioning. This theory, developed primarily by B.F. Skinner, emphasizes how behaviors are influenced by the consequences that follow them. In operant conditioning, behaviors followed by favorable consequences are likely to be repeated, while those followed by unfavorable consequences are less likely to occur in the future.

Reinforcement can be positive, involving the addition of a rewarding stimulus, or negative, which entails the removal of an aversive stimulus. This dynamic illustrates how behaviors can be shaped and modified through reinforcement over time.

While contingency theory deals with the predictability of relationships between actions and outcomes, it does not focus specifically on the reinforcement aspect of behavior. Behavioral conditioning merges both classical and operant conditioning without emphasizing the distinct processes of reinforcement specifically associated with operant conditioning. Cognitive behavioral theory integrates cognitive processes but does not revolve solely around the principles of reinforcement linked with operational learning. Thus, operant conditioning is the most precise term for the specified learning process.