Olivia Is Punished for Spilling Her Cereal

Multiple Choice

Olivia is punished for spilling her cereal. Her parents give her a spanking and send her to her room where she cries. Later, her puppy makes a mess on the floor. Olivia kicks her puppy and puts it out in the yard where it whines sadly. Which of the following statements explains her behavior toward the puppy?

A) Olivia is correctly applying Skinnerian principles of negative reinforcement to change her dog's behavior.
B) Olivia is using negative punishment on her dog and it will change the dog's behavior.
C) Olivia is modeling the aggressive behavior her parents demonstrated to her.
D) Olivia's parents probably think that the best way to raise kids is "spare the rod, spoil the child."