A clinician observes a mother-child dyad in an analog task.In a playroom,the mother is advised to switch from playing with one toy to playing with another every 5 minutes.The therapist notices that when the mother does not give clear warning of the switch,her child tantrums.When he tantrums,the mother soothes him by returning to the original toy.Which is the following is NOT true?
A) The clinician may be performing a functional analysis.
B) The failure to provide time for the child to process the transition may be the antecedent.
C) The tantrum is the consequence.
D) The mother's response to the tantrum is reinforcing.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The tantrum is not the consequence in this scenario; it is the behavior that is being observed. The consequence refers to what happens after the behavior, which in this case is the mother soothing the child by returning to the original toy. This action by the mother is the consequence of the child's tantrum, which serves to reinforce the tantrum behavior.

A Clinician Observes a Mother-Child Dyad in an Analog Task