Final answer:
The example of a father attributing his child's aggressive behavior to autism is an example of mentalism, which focuses on internal, unobservable processes over observable behaviors and external influences. This contrasts with radical behaviorism, which emphasizes observable behaviors and environmental factors.
Step-by-step explanation:
A father warns his child's teacher that his child's aggressive behaviors are caused by his autism. This is an example of mentalism. Mentalism refers to explanations of behavior that are based on internal, mental processes, such as thoughts, feelings, and motivations, which are considered unobservable to others. In this case, the father is attributing the child's behaviors to an internal mental condition (autism), rather than focusing on observable behaviors and environmental factors that might be influencing the child's actions. This contrasts with radical behaviorism, which focuses solely on observable behaviors and the environmental interactions that reinforce or discourage those behaviors. The removal of homosexuality from the DSM is an example of demedicalization, which is the process by which a condition or behavior is no longer classified as a medical disorder. Using references like those from Wolf & Risley (1967) and Wolpe (1958) can enhance understanding of behavioral approaches and help educators and parents to address the behaviors pragmatically and compassionately by looking into the underlying environmental factors and learned responses, instead of solely attributing them to an internal condition.