A basic premise of ____________ is that people are influenced by the consequences of their behavior.

A basic premise of ____________ is that people are influenced by the consequences of their behavior.

• A. Behavior Modification
• B. Systematic Desensitization
• C. Observational Learning
• D. Transference

Answer: (A)

Consequences shape behavior. In behavior modification, the central idea is that what follows a response influences future action: reinforcement makes a behavior more likely to occur again, while punishment or withholding reinforcement makes it less likely. This guiding principle is what explains using rewards, token economies, and other consequences to increase desirable actions and reduce undesirable ones. The other options don’t hinge on changing behavior directly through consequences: systematic desensitization relies on relaxation and gradual exposure to reduce fear, rather than reinforcement patterns; observational learning emphasizes learning by watching others and the outcomes they experience; transference involves clients projecting feelings onto the therapist, not shaping behavior through consequences.

Consequences shape behavior. In behavior modification, the central idea is that what follows a response influences future action: reinforcement makes a behavior more likely to occur again, while punishment or withholding reinforcement makes it less likely. This guiding principle is what explains using rewards, token economies, and other consequences to increase desirable actions and reduce undesirable ones. The other options don’t hinge on changing behavior directly through consequences: systematic desensitization relies on relaxation and gradual exposure to reduce fear, rather than reinforcement patterns; observational learning emphasizes learning by watching others and the outcomes they experience; transference involves clients projecting feelings onto the therapist, not shaping behavior through consequences.