Read the passage and answer the following questions:

Mrs. Sharma is a mother of two children aged 7 and 9 years. Both of them are very notorious and do not listen to her instructions. With every passing day, it is becoming difficult for her to regulate their behaviour. She is not able to discipline them, which she considers an important part of a successful life. One day, she comes across an article in which it is mentioned that if a mother observes behavioural issues in her child, she can apply a technique to modify the undesirable behavior of the child. According to this technique, Mrs. Sharma can give coupons to her children whenever they exhibit desirable behaviours. The coupons could later be exchanged by them for some tangible things such as candy, toys etc. Surprisingly, this technique worked very effectively with her children. In another article she came to know about another technique to modify behavior in which undesirable behavior can be reduced, and desirable behavior can be increased simultaneously.

Which of the following is not a suitable exchange for strengthening the desirable behavior of a child?

Scolding

The correct answer is Option (4) → Scolding

In behaviour modification techniques like a token economy, the purpose of exchanging tokens is to provide positive reinforcement — a pleasant and rewarding outcome that increases the likelihood of the desirable behaviour being repeated. Examples include getting favourite food, going on an outing with parents, or receiving a new toy, as these act as motivators and reinforce good behaviour.

Scolding, on the other hand, is a form of punishment or negative feedback. Rather than encouraging the repetition of desirable behaviour, it can create fear, resentment, or discouragement in the child. It does not serve as a reward and therefore is completely unsuitable for strengthening positive behaviour in a reinforcement-based system.