What approach to therapy would be used by a therapist who teaches a deaf child to sign "help" by rewarding him each time he makes the sign?
Cognitive
Biological
Behavioral
Psychodynamic
Humanistic
I'm torn between behavioral and cognitive.
This would be behavioral psychotherapy. The emphasis is on conditioning and behavior.
To determine the most appropriate approach to therapy for teaching a deaf child to sign "help" by rewarding them each time they make the sign, let's analyze the options:
1. Cognitive approach: The cognitive approach focuses on how individuals perceive, think, and process information. While this approach might involve understanding the child's thought processes and cognitive abilities, it may not directly address teaching the child to sign.
2. Biological approach: The biological approach emphasizes the influence of biological factors on behavior and mental processes. This approach is more concerned with physiological aspects rather than language development or teaching sign language.
3. Behavioral approach: The behavioral approach focuses on observable behavior and how it is learned through conditioning. Teaching a child to sign "help" by rewarding them each time they make the sign aligns with the principles of the behavioral approach, where positive reinforcement is employed to shape desired behaviors. This approach involves breaking down the task into smaller steps and utilizing rewards to encourage the child's progress.
4. Psychodynamic approach: The psychodynamic approach emphasizes unconscious processes and how they influence behavior. Although it might provide insights into the child's emotional experiences and motivations, it is not specifically designed for teaching sign language skills.
5. Humanistic approach: The humanistic approach emphasizes self-awareness, personal growth, and fulfilling one's potential. While promoting self-expression and communication are relevant to teaching sign language, this approach does not provide specific techniques for teaching the child to sign "help."
Considering the options, the most appropriate approach for the therapist teaching a deaf child to sign "help" by rewarding them each time they make the sign would be the behavioral approach.