Some children require a "carrot on a stick" to get them to clean their room, behave well in public places, or make good grades. This suggests that:

a. the incentive approach pulls the child toward the goal.
b. the drive-reduction approach grades the child to reestablish homeostasis.
c. all behavior is controlled by outside rewards.
d. external goals can explain human behavior.

From what I understand I think it is a.

I agree with you.

Right!

You are correct! The explanation for this can be found in the concept of incentive motivation. Incentives are external rewards or goals that can be used to encourage certain behaviors. In this scenario, the "carrot on a stick" acts as an incentive for the children to clean their room, behave well in public places, or make good grades. By using this incentive, their behavior is being motivated and pulled towards the desired goal.

Option a. "the incentive approach pulls the child toward the goal" captures this idea accurately. The incentive approach suggests that external rewards or goals play a role in influencing our behavior.

Option b. "the drive-reduction approach grades the child to reestablish homeostasis" is not applicable in this case. The drive-reduction approach explains behavior as being driven by the need to reduce internal tensions or fulfill basic physiological needs.

Option c. "all behavior is controlled by outside rewards" is an extreme statement and is not supported by the given scenario. While external rewards can be influential, they do not account for all behavior.

Option d. "external goals can explain human behavior" is a general statement that is not specifically supported by the given scenario. While external goals can explain specific behaviors, they do not account for all aspects of human behavior.