A 7-Year-Old Boy Doesn't Come Home for Dinner on Time

question 16

Multiple Choice

A 7-year-old boy doesn't come home for dinner on time 3 nights in a row. Which action by the parents is most appropriate?

• A) Punish him and make him stay home 3 nights.
• B) Discuss the problem and give him another three chances.
• C) Discuss the problem and set outcomes if he is late again.
• D) Allow him to eat dinner on his own when he shows up.

---

Definitions:

Operant Conditioning

A method of learning that occurs through rewards and punishments for behavior, encouraging the repetition of desired behaviors.

Set Number

In mathematics, a concept referring to the count or quantity of distinct elements in a set.

Behaviors

Actions or reactions of an individual in response to external or internal stimuli.

Variable-Ratio Schedule

A reinforcement schedule in operant conditioning where a response is rewarded after an unpredictable number of responses, leading to high and steady response rates.