Asked by Cedrick Ceballos on Jun 27, 2024
Verified
Five-year-old Trevor is emotionally disturbed and refuses to communicate with anyone.To get him to speak,his teacher initially gives him candy for any utterance,then only for a clearly spoken word,and finally only for a complete sentence.The teacher is using the method of
A) secondary reinforcement.
B) delayed reinforcement.
C) spontaneous recovery.
D) shaping.
Shaping
A method used in behavioral psychology to gradually teach a new behavior through reinforcement of successive approximations to the desired behavior.
Emotional Disturbance
A condition characterized by significant difficulties in emotional regulation, leading to problems in social, educational, or occupational functioning.
Communicate
The process of sharing or exchanging information, feelings, or ideas through speech, writing, gestures, or other means.
- Acquire knowledge on the basic principles of operant conditioning.
- Gain insight into the theoretical underpinnings of shaping and successive approximations as methods of behavior modification.
Verified Answer
TM
Treena Mae ValenciaJun 27, 2024
Final Answer :
D
Explanation :
The teacher is using the method of shaping, which involves reinforcing successive approximations of a desired behavior to eventually reach the target behavior. In this case, the desired behavior is Trevor communicating, and the teacher initially reinforces any utterance with candy, then only reinforces clearly spoken words, and finally only reinforces complete sentences. This gradually shapes Trevor's behavior towards the target of communicating more effectively.
Learning Objectives
- Acquire knowledge on the basic principles of operant conditioning.
- Gain insight into the theoretical underpinnings of shaping and successive approximations as methods of behavior modification.