Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) Practice Exam

Which of the following describes the approach of Behavioral Parent Training?

1. Focusing solely on children's behavior

2. Using principles of learning and behavior change for parents

3. Ignoring parent-child interactions

4. Emphasizing emotional discussions over behavior

The correct answer is: Using principles of learning and behavior change for parents

The approach of Behavioral Parent Training is best described by utilizing principles of learning and behavior change specifically for parents. This method incorporates techniques derived from behavioral psychology to help parents develop effective strategies for managing their children's behavior. The focus is on instilling positive behaviors, decreasing negative behaviors, and teaching parents how to reinforce desired behaviors through structured methods. Through this approach, parents learn to apply principles such as reinforcement, shaping, and modeling to encourage better parenting practices. This empowers parents to create a consistent environment that promotes positive development in their children. By emphasizing learning and behavior modification strategies, Behavioral Parent Training aims to improve family dynamics and child outcomes effectively. This choice highlights the essential role that parents play in influencing their children’s behavior by providing them with the tools to understand and alter patterns of interaction, rather than solely focusing on the child’s behavior, ignoring parent-child interactions, or prioritizing emotional discussions over actionable strategies.