Final answer:
Robert used a time-out, which is a form of negative punishment, to address Drew's temper tantrum. A time-out involves separating the child from any positive reinforcement to reduce undesirable behavior, with the duration usually being one minute per year of the child's age.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the scenario provided, Robert is using a procedure called time-out. Time-out is a form of negative punishment that involves removing a child from a desirable activity as a consequence of undesirable behavior. The goal of a time-out is to decrease the likelihood that the unwanted behavior will occur again. In the case of Drew throwing a temper tantrum over his spaghetti dinner, his removal from a situation where he might receive attention or other indirect rewards for his behavior serves as the negative punishment.
Time-outs are usually calculated based on the child's age, with the common approach being one minute per year of age, making Drew's six-minute time-out appropriate for his age. It is essential that during time-out, the child has no access to enjoyable activities and, more importantly, no attention from caregivers which could otherwise reinforce the behavior. Following the time-out, caregivers are encouraged to engage in a positive interaction with the child to reinforce the idea that appropriate behavior will result in positive attention.