Behavior Modification in Children, Positive Vs. Negative Reinforcement

Behavior Modification in Children, Positive Vs. Negative Reinforcement

Agnes Nagy

Professor Wright

IDS 101

5 August 2012

Positive or Negative Reinforcement, What Works Better In Disciplining Children

Positive outcome from the child based on positive reinforcement from the authoritative figure(s), or negative outcome or behavior based on negative reinforcement from the same authoritative figure(s). Some examples of positive reinforcement include rewards, monetary gain, privilege, freedom and responsibility. A few examples of negative behavior are spanking, being put in “time out” or excluded from the group's activities, removal of privileges, lessening freedom and taking away responsibility. The main purpose of this research paper is to identify that from positive or negative reinforcement, which reinforcement works better in order to discipline children (Bucher, 2001). Reinforcing a children's behavior plays a key role in their social and emotional development throughout life. What children sees, what they are taught, how to behave, will ultimately shape their own way of acting in life in various situations. If a mother is being abused by the father, and children are exposed to this, statistics show that the children are more likely to be an abusive spouse themselves, or in retrospect, be abused themselves. It is what they witness and what they learn is the 'norm' for their family, taking that into the world as they grow older.

Discussion

One of the easiest ways to eliminate the behavior problems is the positive reinforcement. Different researches have been done on the various methods which are being used in order to eliminate the behavior problems among children. These researches have proved that positive reinforcement is the most effective method used for the purpose of eliminating the behavior problems among children. In order to assure the successful children discipline, positive reinforcement plays a very important role in developing the children's intrinsic motivation. It is helpful for the children in order to get the knowledge and understanding of the expectations and behaviors (Salend, 1985).

In the old times, parents and the teachers used to adopt the negative reinforcement in order to increase the discipline factors among children. It was a common case that the teachers and parents used to swat on the bottom of the children when they did not do what they had been asked to do. It was a very common practice in order to eliminate the discipline and behavior problems among children. Thus, with the passage of time people got the awareness that negative reinforcement can only spoil the children; rather, improving their behavior. Therefore, with the increased awareness parents and the teachers have started changing their tone and actions to increase the discipline among children. As a result of the positive reinforcement, parents and the teachers had started giving rewards to their children in case when the children do what they were asked to do. Thus, this practice of reinforcing their children brought very effective and positive results in order to eliminate the behavior and discipline problems among children. Teachers and the parents have noticed a very ...