In rational behavior therapy, the difference between the 'normal' adolescent and the adolescent who acts out is that the latter:

• A. Normal adolescents need more structure and resolve conflict through thinking.
• B. Acting-out adolescents need more structure and resolve conflict through activity.
• C. Normal adolescents rely on external validation.
• D. Acting-out adolescents require less structure and internal reflection.

Answer: (B)

In rational behavior therapy, differing ways of handling conflict reflect coping strategies. When an adolescent acts out, the pattern tends to rely on immediate, external action rather than quiet problem-solving or reflection. The best description of this difference is that acting-out adolescents need more structure and resolve conflict through activity. Providing clear rules, predictable expectations, and concrete, purposeful activities gives them a controlled outlet for energy and a tangible way to manage emotions and disputes. This scaffolding reduces impulsive acting-out by channeling tension into constructive behavior and helping them practice adaptive responses in a guided environment. Normal adolescents, by contrast, are more inclined to resolve conflicts through internal processing and cognitive strategies, whereas acting-out behavior signals a need for external structure and activity-based coping.