Answer to Question #304421 in Psychology for Leila

Question

Consider the following scenario: 

You have a five-year-old daughter who suddenly refuses to go to bed on time. She comes up with the classic excuses, needs a story, a song, a kiss, a glass of water, to use the bathroom…then when all appeals are exhausted, moves into the toughest thing for a parent to defend against: monsters!

You suspect that she is not really frightened and that this is just another delay tactic. You even give her a water pistol to shoot the monsters, but these just results in damp posters on her walls. You need to find a way to get your child to go to bed on time.

Your task is to draw on behaviorist principles learned in Chapter 2 to create a plan for modifying your child's behavior.

Answer 1

Many experts in the field of brain science advise parents to disregard their children's bad behavior and instead reward good behavior. Wouldn't it be good to be aware of bad behavior and be able to put a stop to it if support could check it and assist in the formation of positive behavior? However, it is easier said than done, because unpleasant behavior can be irritating. Some parents may be unable to overlook bad behavior and may attempt to change their child's tendency to get into mischief. If you happen to miss it, you may be rewarding this behavior, and as a result, a parent may be failing to fulfill their obligation to their child.

Positive reinforcement is only effective with certain ages. Positive input (which can be reinforcement of a behavior) benefits eight-year-old children the most, whereas negative support or criticism causes them to become worried.

Twelve-year-olds, on the other hand, can anticipate negative feedback and learn from their mistakes. The basal ganglia is another region of the brain that responds dramatically to positive comments. This is located only on the periphery of the cerebral cortex. In all age groups, the cerebrum's area remains active.