Final answer:
Behavior therapy or behavior modification is based on the principles of operant conditioning, using reinforcement and punishment to change a child's behavior. It employs techniques such as sticker charts as part of a token economy to encourage positive behaviors.
Step-by-step explanation:
Behavior therapy, also known as behavior modification, is based on the principles of operant conditioning. This approach to therapy applies the understanding that desirable behaviors can be increased through positive reinforcement, while undesirable behaviors can be decreased through lack of reinforcement or with punishment. Parents and teachers often use behavior modification techniques, such as sticker charts, taking advantage of token economies to encourage positive behaviors like putting away toys, brushing teeth, or helping with dinner.
Operant conditioning was developed from the work of B. F. Skinner, who expanded on Edward Thorndike's law of effect, which posits that behaviors followed by satisfying consequences are more likely to be repeated. Behavior modification relies on the idea that consequences that follow certain behaviors will influence the likelihood of those behaviors being repeated in the future. Therefore, the operant conditioning framework is utilized to shape children's behavior by implementing consistent reinforcement that is meaningful to the child.
While the emphasis on behaviorism has decreased with the rise of cognitive psychology, the principles of operant conditioning remain influential in the realm of behavioral modification. These strategies are often applied in therapeutic settings, as indicated in cognitive-behavioral therapy.