Which of the following is an illustration of the Premack principle?
A) Teaching a child to tie their shoes one small step at a time.
B) Promising a child that he will get cookies for dessert if he eats all of his vegetables.
C) Giving your child the payment for mowing the lawn before they've actually done the chore.
D) Using a spanking to punish a child for lying, even though their behavior was not a serious "crime."

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Premack principle is based on using a high-probability behavior (something someone wants to do) to reinforce a low-probability behavior (something someone does not want to do). In this case, getting cookies for dessert (a high-probability behavior) is used to reinforce eating all of your vegetables (a low-probability behavior).

Options A, C, and D do not involve the Premack principle. Option A is an example of shaping, option C is an example of giving a reward before the behavior has occurred, and option D is an example of punishment.

Which of the Following Is an Illustration of the Premack