Question

Which of the following statements demonstrates how operant conditioning influences the behaviour of children?

Select one:
a. Parents tell their children to play only with children who are generous and non-aggressive and to avoid those who are aggressive.
b. Parents reward children for expressing attitudes that are similar to their own, and punish or ignore contradictory attitudes.
c. Children learn to anticipate that thunder follows lightening.
d. Parents ignore most forms of children's behaviour, reacting to them only when the child is embarrassing the parents.

Answer 1

Option b demonstrates how operant conditioning influences the behavior of children by rewarding attitudes that align with parents' values and punishing or ignoring contradictory attitudes.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that demonstrates how operant conditioning influences the behavior of children is option b. Parents reward children for expressing attitudes that are similar to their own, and punish or ignore contradictory attitudes.

Operant conditioning is a form of learning where behavior is influenced by consequences. In this case, children are rewarded for exhibiting attitudes that align with their parents' values, encouraging them to continue displaying similar behavior. On the other hand, contradictory attitudes are punished or ignored, discouraging the repetition of those behaviors. This method of reinforcement and punishment shapes the behavior of children by associating certain attitudes with positive or negative consequences.