Which of these best demonstrates the concept of stimulus control?

The concept of stimulus control refers to a situation where a behavior is influenced or regulated by the presence of specific stimuli in the environment. The best demonstration of this concept is responding consistently to cues in the environment. This indicates that the individual has learned to associate certain stimuli with particular responses, meaning they will only exhibit the behavior when prompted by the appropriate stimulus.

For instance, a person might only raise their hand in class when the teacher asks a question, showing that the presence of the teacher's question controls their behavior. This consistency implies that the behavior is not random but rather dependent on specific environmental cues, highlighting the importance of stimulus control in shaping behavior.

In other scenarios, such as following commands only when instructed, the individual may not demonstrate consistent behavior based on environmental cues; they require explicit instructions. Learning through observation involves acquiring skills or knowledge by watching others, which is not directly related to stimulus control. Randomly performing tasks does not indicate any form of control or influence from stimuli, as the behavior is erratic and lacks a structured response to environmental cues. Thus, the choice that best exemplifies stimulus control is responding consistently to cues in the environment.