Selectionism applies to three levels of behavioral development phylogenic ontogenic and cultural Phylogenic behaviors are those inherited through natural selection over the evolutionary history of a species contributing to survival and reproduction eg reflexes fixed action patterns Cultural behaviors are acquired and transmitted across individuals within a group through social learning processes like imitation and modeling Ontogenic behavior refers to behaviors acquired and modified during an individuals lifetime through direct interaction with their unique environment primarily through operant conditioning principles such as reinforcement and punishment The scenario describes a behavior social greeting that strengthens due to positive reinforcement that is socially mediated which is a clear example of learning that occurs within an individuals lifetime based on their specific environmental contingencies Therefore it is classified as ontogenic behavior Respondent behavior is a type of behavior elicited by an antecedent stimulus but not a level of selectionism and it is not primarily strengthened by its consequences