Surya Wants 8-Year-Old Leila to Start Her Homework

Multiple Choice

Surya wants 8-year-old Leila to start her homework.Leila doesn't want to turn off the TV.Surya raises her voice and threatens to take away Leila's TV privileges for a week if she doesn't comply.Surya enters the room and commands Leila to obey.Leila begins to wail,saying that the homework is too hard and that she never understands it anyway.At this point the phone rings.Surya gets absorbed in the call.Thirty minutes later,Leila is still watching TV and another battle ensues.Surya,exhausted from the struggle,takes Leila to bed.Which of the following best illustrates the negative reinforcement cycle that is operating in this example?

A) Leila is more likely to continue the conflict when Surya raises her voice.
B) Leila is allowed to watch TV longer if she keeps arguing with her mother.
C) Surya is more likely to gain compliance when she threatens Leila.
D) Leila is more likely to do her homework if she understands the material.