Fatima sees her four-year-old son spontaneously picking up his toys. If she wishes for her son to continue this behavior, she should
A)praise her son immediately after he finishes picking up the toys.
B)wait and praise her son after his father gets home from work.
C)not praise her son because he will then expect praise every time he acts "good."
D)wait and only praise him if he picks them up again on another day.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Praising the child immediately after the desired behavior (picking up toys) reinforces the behavior, making it more likely to occur again. Immediate positive reinforcement is a key principle in behaviorism, effectively strengthening the connection between the behavior and the positive outcome (praise).

Fatima Sees Her Four-Year-Old Son Spontaneously Picking Up His Toys