Question

A psychologist is attempting to get Wade, an 8-year-old autistic boy, to make eye contact when she speaks to him. She gives Wade a piece of candy every time he looks at her face. This treatment illustrates which of the following therapeutic approaches?
A) Biological
B) Psychodynamic
C) Humanistic
D) Behavioral

Answer 1

Answer:

The answer is D) Behavioral.

Explanation:

Behavioral approaches to psychology state that individuals act according to positive or negative reinforcement (i.e. rewards or punishment) and other environmental stimuli.

In this example, the psychologist is engaging in operant conditioning. This theory explains that people are more likely to repeat an action when followed by a pleasant outcome.