AP PSYCHOLOGY

LEARNING

OPERANT CONDITIONING

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
A father is frustrated because his teenage daughter has started to curse frequently. He has decided to temporarily decrease her allowance each time she curses. He is going to continue doing this until she has stopped cursing. His plan uses
A
positive reinforcement
B
negative reinforcement
C
punishment
D
response cost
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -For example, spanking a child when he throws a tantrum is an example of positive punishment. Something is added to the mix (spanking) to discourage a bad behavior (throwing a tantrum). On the other hand, removing restrictions from a child when she follows the rules is an example of negative reinforcement.

Detailed explanation-2: -Examples of Negative Reinforcement Getting up from the bed to avoid the noisy alarm. Taking an antacid before having a spicy meal. Applying sunscreen before heading to the beach to avoid getting sunburned. Leaving early from the house to avoid traffic jams.

Detailed explanation-3: -Operant conditioning can also be used to decrease a behavior via the removal of a desirable outcome or the application of a negative outcome. For example, a child may be told they will lose recess privileges if they talk out of turn in class. This potential for punishment may lead to a decrease in disruptive behaviors.

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