Question

Suppose that you are asked to lead a workshop for parents on the use of punishment and reinforcement to manage a child and adolescent behavior. What might you tell the parents regarding the appropriate and inappropriate use of punishment? Suggest how parents might use punishment more effectively and how they might substitute reinforcement for punishment. Provide concrete examples to support each point.

Answer 1

Punishment is basically giving a negative consequence for inappropriate behaviour. It is an aggressive way of making a child disciplined. Frequent and prolonged punishments generally have a negative effect on the child.

One way of helping a child improve his/her behaviour by not punishing is through the use of reinforcements. Reinforcements could be of two types: Positive or Negative.

1) In case of Positive reinforcements, a child needs to be appreciated everytime a favourable or appropriate behaviour is displayed by the child. This could be in the form of verbal appreciation or sometimes a materialistic one too. Children love praises and they would continue behaviour that would fetch them more praises. For example, when a child performs well academically or cleanses his/her room without reminders, he/she should be complimented for the good behaviour. This would encourage the child to study better and fetch even better grades or the child would continue to keep the room clean, etc.

2) Negative reinforcements are given in the form of withdrawing certain pleasures in order to make the child learn proper ways of behaving. For example, if the child does not come back home on time even after initial warnings, he or she could picked up by their parents or could be asked to study for a longer duration once back in order to make up for the lost time. In this way, the child would be able to realise his/her responsibility without feeling humiliated or demotivated.