A pattern of family interaction in which the child misbehaves, the parents tries to punish the child but is ineffective, and the child escalates the misbehavior until the parents give up is what Gerald Patterson and his colleagues have called a
A) reciprocating family environment.
B) dysfunctional family environment.
C) coercive family environment.
D) toxic family environment.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Patterson and his colleagues coined the term "coercive family environment" to describe this pattern of interaction. In this type of environment, children learn that misbehavior is an effective way to get what they want because their parents eventually give in or give up. This can lead to a cycle of increasingly problematic behavior and ineffective discipline.

A Pattern of Family Interaction in Which the Child Misbehaves