When Ruth and Michael Have Their First Child, Jacob, They

question 53

Multiple Choice

When Ruth and Michael have their first child, Jacob, they vow to be "good" parents who will always treat their son gently. Yet Jacob is a temperamentally hyperactive child who is difficult to control. In their efforts to discipline him, Ruth and Michael scream at him and spank him far more frequently than they ever thought they might. This situation reflects the fact that:

• A) The socialization of children involves reciprocal influences.
• B) Physically aggressive parenting is instinctive in human beings.
• C) Parents are more likely to use harsh discipline with boys than with girls.
• D) Two-parent families are more likely to be authoritarian than single-parent families.

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Definitions:

Rebellious

describes a person, behavior, or action showing a desire to resist authority, control, or convention.

Target Response

The desired behavior or outcome that a study or campaign aims to elicit from its subjects or audience.

Positive Reinforcement

The addition of a stimulus following a behavior that makes it more likely that the behavior will occur again in the future.

Negative Reinforcement

A type of operant conditioning that removes an unfavorable stimulus to increase the likelihood of a behavior being repeated.