Child and Youth Care (CYC) Practice Exam 2025 – Complete Study Resource

Behaviorists in Child and Youth Care emphasize that behavior is primarily influenced by external factors, particularly environmental conditions and reinforcements. This perspective is grounded in the belief that behaviors can be understood through observable actions and their consequences rather than internal psychological states or traits.

According to behaviorist principles, individuals learn behaviors through processes such as conditioning. Positive reinforcements encourage the repetition of desirable behaviors, while negative reinforcements may lead to a reduction in undesirable behaviors. For example, if a child receives praise (a reinforcement) for sharing toys, they are more likely to repeat that behavior in the future. Thus, behaviorists focus on creating supportive environments that foster positive behaviors through systematic reinforcement strategies.

In contrast, concepts such as internal conflicts, cultural perceptions, and inherent personality traits pertain to other psychological theories that prioritize internal thought processes and individual differences over the external influences emphasized by behaviorism.