What is it the theory called when you tell your child that he can't go out an play until he eats his vegetables?
.....very big grin..... Bribery!
Maslow's Theory may be what you are looking for. See the site below.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow's_hierarchy_of_needs
This would also involve reinforcement (bribery, if you want to use that biased term) and is related to operant conditioning.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operant_conditioning
I hope this helps a little more. Thanks for asking.
Actually, the theory you are referring to is not Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, but rather a technique called positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement is a concept derived from the field of psychology known as operant conditioning, which was developed by B.F. Skinner.
In operant conditioning, positive reinforcement involves providing a desirable stimulus or reward (such as being able to go out and play) after a desired behavior (eating vegetables) is performed. The idea is that by rewarding the behavior, it increases the likelihood of that behavior being repeated in the future.
So, when you tell your child that he can't go out and play until he eats his vegetables, you are using positive reinforcement. By linking the behavior of eating vegetables to the reward of playing, you are encouraging your child to eat vegetables more often.
If you would like more information on positive reinforcement and operant conditioning, you can refer to the links provided in my previous response.