Mr. and Mrs. Mercado don't allow their daughter Maggie to chew gum at home and have punished her severely on the few occasions they have found her with gum in her mouth. Now Maggie rarely chews gum at home but chews it almost constantly at school, where she is not punished for doing so. Maggie's different behaviors at home and at school illustrate an effect of punishment known as:
A) emotional arousal
B) reversal
C) behavioral contrast
D) restitution

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Behavioral contrast refers to a phenomenon where a behavior that is punished or unrewarded in one context is more likely to occur in a different context where it is not punished or is rewarded. In this scenario, Maggie's behavior of chewing gum is not punished at school, so she is more likely to engage in that behavior in that setting.

Mr and Mrs