The parents of a 10-year-old child come to the office to discuss the issues raised during the most recent parent-teacher conference. One parent states that the child is able to act age appropriately unless given a task to complete, such as making their bed. In this case, the child crawls on the floor and begins to speak "baby talk" until the other parent relents and does the task for the child. What is the most appropriate reason for this maladaptive behavior?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

1.This is incorrect. Extinction behavioral modification is the gradual decrease in frequency or disappearance of a response when the positive reinforcement is withheld.
2.This is incorrect. Overt sensitization is a type of aversion therapy that produces unpleasant consequences for undesirable behavior.
3.This is incorrect. Systematic desensitization is a technique used for assisting individuals to overcome their fear of a phobic stimulus.
4.This is correct. The father has been conditioned by the child to perform the tasks for the child's maladaptive behavior.

The Parents of a 10-Year-Old Child Come to the Office