Nellie, three, bangs her head against the wall repeatedly throughout the day. How could Skinner's concept of operant conditioning be applied to address this behavior?
A) explore experiences from Nellie's early childhood and address them in therapy
B) test Nellie to determine her current level of cognitive functioning
C) investigate her psychosocial environment and eliminate stressors
D) reward Nellie when she does not bang her head and punish the head-banging behavior

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Skinner's concept of operant conditioning focuses on how behavior can be shaped by its consequences. In this case, rewarding Nellie when she does not bang her head could reinforce that behavior and encourage her to continue behaving that way. Punishing the head-banging behavior could help reduce or eliminate the behavior by making it less likely to occur in the future. It is important to note that punishment should not be physically harmful or emotionally abusive, and positive reinforcement should be used more frequently than punishment. A and C may be important considerations in addressing Nellie's behavior, but they do not directly apply to operant conditioning. B may also be important in understanding Nellie's behavior, but it is not directly related to operant conditioning.

Nellie, Three, Bangs Her Head Against the Wall Repeatedly Throughout