The parents of a 13-year-old boy would like him to help out more around the hous

Question

The parents of a 13-year-old boy would like him to help out more around the house, including doing his share of the dishes. After a meal at which it is his turn to do the dishes, he first refuses, pleading that he has other things to do that are more important. Frustrated, with his refusal, his parents start yelling at him and continue until he complies with their request. But as he washes, the dishes, his mother notices that he is doing a very poor job, so she relieves him of his duty and finished the job herself.

What type of reinforcement did the parents use to gain the boy’s compliance? What behaviors of the parents did the boy reinforce by complying with their request?

What behavior did the mother inadvertently strengthen by relieving the boy of his chores?

Based on your reading of the material, how would you suggest this family change these reinforcement patterns?

Explanation / Answer

The parents used negative reinforcement technique to gain boy's compliance. (Removal of yelling by parents which is an aversive stimulus on increase of target behaviour of dish washing/compliance). The boy reinforced the yelling behavior of his parents with his compliance. His mother inadvertently strengthened boy's behaviour of not washing the dishes properly by relieving him of his chores.

If family follows a positive reinforcement schedule for increasing boy's compliance to do his chores the reinforcement pattern in the family will become better.

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