Which psychological view focuses on how behavior is reinforced by rewards?

The behavioral view is centered on the concept that behavior is shaped and maintained through reinforcement. This perspective emphasizes the role of external stimuli and the consequences of one's actions. When a behavior is followed by a reward, it increases the likelihood that the behavior will be repeated in the future. This process of reinforcement can be positive (adding a pleasant stimulus) or negative (removing an unpleasant one), both of which strengthen a behavior.

In the context of juvenile delinquency, understanding how certain behaviors are reinforced can provide crucial insights into why some youths might engage in unlawful activities. For instance, if a juvenile receives praise or tangible rewards (like money or peer approval) for delinquent acts, the likelihood of repeating these behaviors increases due to the reinforcement they experience.

The other perspectives, although important in their own respects, do not focus specifically on reinforcement in the way the behavioral view does. The psychodynamic perspective prioritizes unconscious processes and childhood experiences, the cognitive perspective looks at thought processes and how they influence behavior, and the socioeconomic perspective considers the effects of social and economic factors on behavior. Each of these approaches contributes differently to understanding behavior but does not explicitly focus on the reinforcement mechanisms that the behavioral view highlights.