When a parent gives into a child's tantrum in order to stop the child's tantrum behavior, this leads to a greater likelihood that when the child throws a tantrum in the future, the parent will give in again. This change in the parent's behavior is an example of ____.
A) negative reinforcement
B) positive reinforcement
C) negative punishment
D) positive punishment

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Negative reinforcement is the removal of an aversive stimulus following a behavior, which increases the likelihood of that behavior being repeated in the future. In this case, the aversive stimulus is the tantrum behavior, and the parent removes it by giving in to the child's demands. By doing so, the parent reinforces the behavior of throwing tantrums, making it more likely to happen in the future.

When a Parent Gives into a Child's Tantrum in Order