Billy Is 4 Years Old

question 69

Multiple Choice

Billy is 4 years old. He has a big box of Legos, and his mother asks him to give her five Legos from the box. He has trouble deciding how many to give her so he takes a handful and says, "Here, it's five." What is Billy's problem with this task?

• A) Four-year-olds cannot count to five.
• B) Four-year-olds are obstinate.
• C) Four-year-olds do not have a scheme for conservation of numbers.
• D) Four-year-olds do not want to be tested by their mothers.

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Definitions:

Behavior Modification

A technique used in psychology to change undesirable behaviors through the systematic application of reinforcement or punishment.

Positive Reinforcement

A method in behavioral psychology where a desirable stimulus is introduced after a behavior, increasing the likelihood of that behavior being repeated.

Negative Reinforcement

A type of operant conditioning that occurs when a response or behavior is strengthened by stopping, removing, or avoiding a negative outcome or aversive stimulus.

Laboratory Experiments

Controlled research studies conducted in a lab setting to test hypotheses by manipulating variables.