What method is Jamie using to train her son Jake to load the dishwasher by offering playtime as a reward?

Jamie is using conditioning as a method to train her son Jake. This approach is based on the principles of behaviorism, which posits that behaviors can be modified through reinforcement. In this case, by offering playtime as a reward for loading the dishwasher, Jamie is positively reinforcing the desired behavior. This means that Jake is more likely to repeat the action of loading the dishwasher in order to receive the reward of playtime, creating a link between the task he completes and the enjoyable outcome that follows.

Conditioning can involve both classical and operant conditioning, but in this scenario, it most closely aligns with operant conditioning, where behaviors are influenced by the consequences they produce. By consistently pairing the task with a reward, Jamie is effectively teaching Jake the behavior through this reinforcement mechanism.