A child was very sick and unable to attend school. While she was ill, she received lots of attention and was excused from her normal responsibilities. Although she no longer has symptoms, the child says she still does not feel well. A behavior analyst would most likely suggest that the child's current behavior is the result of

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The behavior analyst would likely suggest that the child's current behavior is the result of secondary gains derived from being sick, such as receiving extra attention and being excused from responsibilities, which can reinforce the behavior of claiming to feel unwell even after recovery.  Secondary gains reinforce undesirable behaviors because the person receives attention or sympathy and is excused from normal responsibilities.

A Child Was Very Sick and Unable to Attend School