Question

10-year-old Fred gets into frequent fights at school. His mother punishes him by requiring him to help cook dinner every night. However, since Fred actually enjoys cooking, he is secretly pleased with this situation. This scenario exemplifies which of the following criticisms of behavior theory?

A) Ignoring individual preferences
B) Overemphasis on punishment
C) Lack of consideration for biological factors
D) Failure to account for situational influences

Answer 1

The scenario where Fred enjoys his punishment of cooking dinner aligns with the criticism of behavior theory that relates to Ignoring individual preferences, as it shows the theory's failure to consider what an individual may find rewarding or punishing.

Step-by-step explanation:

The scenario with 10-year-old Fred who is punished by being required to help cook dinner, a task he enjoys, illustrates the criticism of behavior theory referred to as Ignoring individual preferences. Behavior theory often focuses on the use of reinforcements and punishments to modify behavior. However, in Fred's case, the punishment inadvertently acts as a reinforcement because it aligns with his personal interests, leading to a failure in modifying his behavior towards the desired outcome. This highlights an important critique of behavior theory, which can be too simplistic in failing to take individual likes and dislikes into account when designing interventions.