Cara’s mother allows her to watch her favourite programme on television every time she completes her homework on her own. This is an example of __________.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Positive reinforcement
Option (1) Token economy — Incorrect. In a token economy a person is given a token every time a wanted behaviour occurs; the tokens are collected and later exchanged for a reward. Cara gets her reward directly, with no tokens.
Option (2) Positive reinforcement — Correct. If an adaptive behaviour occurs rarely, positive reinforcement is given to increase it. A typical example is a mother who prepares the child’s favourite dish whenever the child does homework at the appointed time. Cara’s favourite programme works the same way for doing her homework on her own.
Option (3) Differential reinforcement — Incorrect. Differential reinforcement reduces an unwanted behaviour and increases a wanted one at the same time, for example by rewarding the wanted behaviour and ignoring the unwanted one. The case has no unwanted behaviour being reduced.
Option (4) Modelling — Incorrect. In modelling the client learns to behave in a certain way by observing the behaviour of a role model. Cara learns from a reward, not by watching someone.
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.” “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.…” “…Modelling is the procedure wherein the client learns to behave in a certain way by observing the behaviour of a role model or the therapist who initially acts as the role model.…” |