If a child throws a tantrum in a store and a parent buys them a toy, what behavior is being encouraged?

When a child throws a tantrum and a parent responds by giving them a toy, the behavior of throwing tantrums is being reinforced. This is a classic example of operant conditioning, specifically positive reinforcement. The child learns that by exhibiting the tantrum behavior, they can obtain a desired item (the toy). As a result, the child is likely to repeat this behavior in the future when they want something, expecting similar rewards.

In this context, the action of buying the toy serves to encourage and strengthen the tantrum-throwing behavior. The more often this dynamic occurs, the more likely it is that tantrums will be used in the future as a strategy to gain attention or material rewards. Therefore, the correct answer effectively captures the outcome of this interaction.