If Jimmy helps his father put away the dishes and is praised after all the dishes are put away, what is the purpose of this praise?

The purpose of the praise given to Jimmy after he helps put away the dishes is to reinforce his behavior. In operant conditioning, reinforcement is any consequence that increases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated in the future. By praising Jimmy, his father is providing positive feedback that encourages him to engage in the helpful behavior again. This positive reinforcement makes it more probable that Jimmy will want to help with chores in the future because he associates that action with receiving praise and approval from his father.

In contrast, punishment would aim to decrease the likelihood of a behavior, while distracting Jimmy would divert his attention rather than encouraging him to help. Simply decreasing behavior would not align with the positive feedback provided. Thus, the praise serves as reinforcement that strengthens the bond between Jimmy's helpful actions and positive recognition.