Miranda complains loudly every time her boyfriend watches sports. As a result of her complaining, he usually turns off the television. He feels like their relationship is strained, but she feels like things are really going her way. Regarding the use of punishment, what could you say about this example?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In this scenario, Miranda's complaining, which serves as a form of punishment for her boyfriend's behavior of watching sports, is negatively reinforced because it successfully leads to the cessation of the behavior she finds undesirable (him watching sports). This makes the complaining behavior more likely to occur in the future under similar circumstances. The relationship might indeed benefit from more positive interactions rather than relying on aversive tactics like complaining, indicating that a shift towards more pleasant interactions could improve the dynamic between them. Lastly, Miranda's boyfriend is experiencing punishment (Miranda's complaining) as a direct consequence of his action (watching sports), which is intended to decrease that behavior. Therefore, all the provided options accurately describe aspects of the situation.

Miranda Complains Loudly Every Time Her Boyfriend Watches Sports