In a case of a girl who sulks and cries when she is not taken to the cinema when she asks. The parent is instructed to take her to the cinema if she does not cry and sulk but not to take her if she does. Further, the parent is instructed to ignore the girl when she cries and sulks. The wanted behavior of politely asking to be taken to the cinema increases and the unwanted behavior of crying and sulking decreases. So, here which two methods are used for behavior modification?

Differential Reinforcement

The correct answer is Option 4: Differential Reinforcement

In the case described:

• The girl's wanted behavior (politely asking) is rewarded by taking her to the cinema → this is positive reinforcement.

• The unwanted behavior (sulking and crying) is ignored, not punished → this is a form of extinction.

• Together, this is a classic example of Differential Reinforcement:
  ➤ Reinforce the desired behavior,
  ➤ Withhold reinforcement for the undesired behavior

NCERT: Unwanted behaviour can be reduced and wanted behaviour can be increased simultaneously through differential reinforcement. Positive reinforcement for the wanted behaviour and negative reinforcement for the unwanted behaviour attempted together may be one such method. The other method is to positively reinforce the wanted behaviour and ignore the unwanted behaviour. The latter method is less painful and equally effective. For example, let us consider the case of a girl who sulks and cries when she is not taken to the cinema when she asks. The parent is instructed to take her to the cinema if she does not cry and sulk but not to take her if she does. Further, the parent is instructed to ignore the girl when she cries and sulks. The wanted behaviour of politely asking to be taken to the cinema increases and the unwanted behaviour of crying and sulking decreases.