What is the likely result when Tony says "Mommy!" upon seeing his father, who does not respond?

In this scenario, Tony calling out "Mommy!" upon seeing his father is an example of vocal communication that may not yield a response from his father, which can influence how and when Tony uses the term "mommy" in the future. The most likely outcome is that Tony may learn to say "mommy" primarily when he actually sees his mother because of the contextual relevance of the term.

Additionally, because his father does not respond to this call, it can lead to a situation where Tony may not associate the call of "mommy" with his father. Instead, he may view "mommy" as a way to signal only his mother when she is present. This experience reinforces that specific calling behavior and encourages Tony to use it with the correct reference point.

Therefore, both the likelihood of Tony exclusively using "mommy" when he sees his mother, as well as the possibility that his mother gains stimulus control over that response, aligns perfectly with his social learning and interactions. This interplay of reinforcement and context leads to the understanding that both outcomes — using "mommy" in the presence of his mother and associating that term primarily with her — are supported by Tony's experiences and responses.