What principle is demonstrated when a dog jumps on a counter and grabs food while the owner is out of the room?

The principle demonstrated when a dog jumps on a counter and grabs food while the owner is out of the room aligns with positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement occurs when a behavior is followed by a rewarding stimulus, which increases the likelihood of that behavior being repeated in the future. In this scenario, the act of jumping on the counter leads to the dog successfully obtaining food, which serves as a reward. As a result, the dog is likely to repeat this behavior when given the opportunity, associating the action of counter surfing with a positive outcome.

In contrast, the other options represent different mechanisms of behavior modification. Positive punishment involves presenting an aversive consequence after a behavior which decreases the likelihood of that behavior occurring again. Negative reinforcement entails the removal of an aversive stimulus to encourage a behavior, while classical conditioning involves associating an involuntary response with a stimulus. Since the dog's action leads to a direct reward, positive reinforcement accurately describes the situation.