A parent wishes to stop her young son from throwing temper tantrums. You suggest she use extinction and advise her to __________

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Extinction involves ignoring the behavior that is being reinforced. In this case, the tantrums are likely being reinforced by the attention the child receives when he throws them. By ignoring the tantrums and only giving attention and praise when the child is calm, the parent can extinguish the behavior of throwing tantrums. Options A and B involve punishment, which may increase aggression and resentment in the child. Option C involves positive reinforcement for being calm, but does not address the behavior of throwing tantrums.

A Parent Wishes to Stop Her Young Son from Throwing