Giving your child money for studying and doing well on a test is an example of shaping behavior by using
A. coercion B. reward C. empowerment D. persuasion
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is B. reward.
Shaping behavior by using a reward refers to reinforcing or encouraging a specific behavior through positive reinforcement. In this case, giving a child money for studying or doing well on a test is an example of positive reinforcement. A reward is used to encourage the child to continue engaging in behaviors that lead to success, such as studying and performing well academically.
When a child receives money as a reward for their efforts, they are more likely to associate the behavior (studying and performing well) with positive outcomes. Over time, this can create a stronger motivation to keep studying and striving for success. The money is an external motivator that helps to shape the child’s behavior by reinforcing the desired actions.
In the context of behavior psychology, positive reinforcement is one of the most effective methods for increasing the likelihood of a particular behavior being repeated. By giving the child money, the parent is making the behavior of studying and performing well on tests more likely to continue because it is linked with a tangible benefit. This is an example of using an external motivator to influence behavior, which is central to the concept of reward-based learning.
On the other hand, coercion involves forcing someone to act in a certain way, empowerment refers to giving someone the ability or power to make decisions, and persuasion involves influencing someone through argument or reasoning. Therefore, these options are not as relevant to the scenario of rewarding a child for academic success.