A developmentally disabled child frequently scratches herself when smiling, when upset, when interacting with others, when alone, and whether or not demands are placed on her.But when she is required to wear thin rubber gloves throughout the day, scratching gradually decreases to zero.The principle or procedure responsible for her improvement might best be described as:
A)respondent extinction
B)negative reinforcement
C)counterconditioning
D)operant extinction

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The principle responsible for the improvement is operant extinction. By wearing gloves, the child's scratching behavior no longer produces the previous consequence (such as sensory feedback), leading to a decrease in the behavior. This is an example of operant extinction, where a behavior decreases because it is no longer reinforced.

A Developmentally Disabled Child Frequently Scratches Herself When Smiling, When