A child argues and whines when his mother asks him to clean his room and then she cleans his room herself so that he will stop whining. This is an example of
A) disinhibition.
B) counterimitation.
C) punishment.
D) a negative reinforcement trap.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This is a classic example of a negative reinforcement trap, where the mother inadvertently reinforces the child's whining and arguing by giving in and doing the task for him. By doing so, she removes the aversive stimulus (the demand to clean the room) and thereby reinforces the child's non-compliant behavior. This can create a vicious cycle of the child learning that whining and arguing is an effective way to avoid unpleasant tasks, and the mother feeling frustrated and overwhelmed by the child's behavior. It is important for parents to recognize this trap and avoid falling into it by consistently reinforcing positive behaviors and setting clear expectations and consequences for non-compliance.

A Child Argues and Whines When His Mother Asks Him