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?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Scolding
In a token economy the tokens are exchanged for a reward, such as an outing or a treat, so that the wanted behaviour becomes more likely. The question asks which exchange would not strengthen the behaviour.
Option (1) Getting favourite food — A suitable reward (Incorrect). Food the child likes is a pleasant consequence. Preparing the child’s favourite dish whenever homework is done on time is the very example given for positive reinforcement.
Option (2) Outing with the parents — A suitable reward (Incorrect). An outing is named as one of the rewards for which tokens may be exchanged.
Option (3) Purchase of a new toy — A suitable reward (Incorrect). The passage itself says the coupons can be exchanged for tangible things such as candy and toys.
Option (4) Scolding — Not a suitable exchange (Correct). Scolding is an unpleasant consequence, a form of punishment. A child who earned coupons by behaving well and then got a scolding in exchange would learn to avoid that behaviour, not repeat it.
NCERT (2025-26): “Behavioural Techniques … If an adaptive behaviour occurs rarely, positive reinforcement is given to increase the deficit. For example, if a child does not do homework regularly, positive reinforcement may be used by the child’s mother by preparing the child’s favourite dish whenever s/he does homework at the appointed time. The positive reinforcement of food will increase the behaviour of doing homework at the appointed time. Persons with behavioural problems can be given a token as a reward every time a wanted behaviour occurs. The tokens are collected and exchanged for a reward such as an outing for the patient or a treat for the child. This is known as token economy.” |