Positive vs Negative Reinforcement

[Nebulous]

Which do you think is more effective for parenting? Should there be a balance of the two or is one more effective than the other? Do you think too much of one and not enough of the other will have adverse effects in a child's development?

 

[Kasynlie]

Positive. Always. Reverse psychology or negative reinforcement doesn't always work. And I don't think that the risk of using negative reinforcement is worth it when positive reinforcement has little to no ill effects.

 

[Nebulous]

Parents should celebrate a child's accomplishments and encourage the child in whatever they are interested in but at the same time a parent should be stern and teach the child that there is consequences for doing bad things.



A balance of the two will result in a well balanced child.

 

[Kasynlie]

And I don't believe shouting at a child is the correct want to parent a child.

 

[Nebulous]

Who said anything about shouting?

 

[Kasynlie]

We're talking about parenting aren't we?

 

[Nebulous]

Is that what you think of when you think of negative reinforcement ?

 

[Kasynlie]

Nevermind. I'm thinking of something else.

 

[Nebulous]

Just found a interesting article that shows the balance both:

Children and Positive Reinforcement

Everyone likes to be praised and children are no different. When children display good behaviour, parents should acknowledge their actions by congratulating their children on their decisions. Such positive reinforcements allow children to connect that what they did has made their parents happy, and therefore was the correct choice.



For example, when a child tidies his toys away without being asked, having a parent say “Well done!” and giving him a cuddle will help him connect that putting toys away is a good decision. However, parents should not confuse positive reinforcement with bribery.



Children should be not be offered rewards in the hopes that they will act in a certain manner, and positive consequences should never be offered before a behaviour is carried out. If it is, then parents can not know for sure whether a child acted a certain way because it was the right thing to do or because he was told to act a certain way and promised a prize for doing so.



Children and Negative Reinforcement

Negative reinforcement is the opposite of positive reinforcement. When a child chooses to act inappropriately or misbehave, a parent should greet these behaviours with a negative attitude. For example, if a child chooses not to tidy his toys a parent might bring him back into the play room and tell him that tidying toys is important and that it is irresponsible to leave toys laying about.



However, parents should be sure to address the behaviour in negative terms, not the child. It is important that children do not feel that their parents believe that they are bad, irresponsible or stupid. Always addressing the behaviour, rather than the child, will help make this distinction.



Helping children realise which behaviours are appropriate and responsible is part of a parent’s job description. There are two ways parents can help teach children good behaviour, through positive reinforcement of good behaviours and negative reinforcement of bad behaviours.

 

[Jazzy]

Just found a interesting article that shows the balance both:

Children and Positive Reinforcement

Everyone likes to be praised and children are no different. When children display good behaviour, parents should acknowledge their actions by congratulating their children on their decisions. Such positive reinforcements allow children to connect that what they did has made their parents happy, and therefore was the correct choice.



For example, when a child tidies his toys away without being asked, having a parent say “Well done!” and giving him a cuddle will help him connect that putting toys away is a good decision. However, parents should not confuse positive reinforcement with bribery.



Children should be not be offered rewards in the hopes that they will act in a certain manner, and positive consequences should never be offered before a behaviour is carried out. If it is, then parents can not know for sure whether a child acted a certain way because it was the right thing to do or because he was told to act a certain way and promised a prize for doing so.



Children and Negative Reinforcement

Negative reinforcement is the opposite of positive reinforcement. When a child chooses to act inappropriately or misbehave, a parent should greet these behaviours with a negative attitude. For example, if a child chooses not to tidy his toys a parent might bring him back into the play room and tell him that tidying toys is important and that it is irresponsible to leave toys laying about.



However, parents should be sure to address the behaviour in negative terms, not the child. It is important that children do not feel that their parents believe that they are bad, irresponsible or stupid. Always addressing the behaviour, rather than the child, will help make this distinction.



Helping children realise which behaviours are appropriate and responsible is part of a parent’s job description. There are two ways parents can help teach children good behaviour, through positive reinforcement of good behaviours and negative reinforcement of bad behaviours.

That's a great article. I agree with it but not sure how many parents really practice this. Talking for myself only, my dad only reacted if I did something negative. In a way he did me a favor because I have grown up to be a very positive person.

 

[The Dragon Master]

Just found a interesting article that shows the balance both:

Children and Positive Reinforcement

Everyone likes to be praised and children are no different. When children display good behaviour, parents should acknowledge their actions by congratulating their children on their decisions. Such positive reinforcements allow children to connect that what they did has made their parents happy, and therefore was the correct choice.



For example, when a child tidies his toys away without being asked, having a parent say “Well done!” and giving him a cuddle will help him connect that putting toys away is a good decision. However, parents should not confuse positive reinforcement with bribery.



Children should be not be offered rewards in the hopes that they will act in a certain manner, and positive consequences should never be offered before a behaviour is carried out. If it is, then parents can not know for sure whether a child acted a certain way because it was the right thing to do or because he was told to act a certain way and promised a prize for doing so.



Children and Negative Reinforcement

Negative reinforcement is the opposite of positive reinforcement. When a child chooses to act inappropriately or misbehave, a parent should greet these behaviours with a negative attitude. For example, if a child chooses not to tidy his toys a parent might bring him back into the play room and tell him that tidying toys is important and that it is irresponsible to leave toys laying about.



However, parents should be sure to address the behaviour in negative terms, not the child. It is important that children do not feel that their parents believe that they are bad, irresponsible or stupid. Always addressing the behaviour, rather than the child, will help make this distinction.



Helping children realise which behaviours are appropriate and responsible is part of a parent’s job description. There are two ways parents can help teach children good behaviour, through positive reinforcement of good behaviours and negative reinforcement of bad behaviours.

I agree with everything said in the article. There needs to be a good mixture of both. To much negative reinforcement means that the child may grow up, and be someone who thinks that nothing they do is right, which could lead to mental health problems. To much positive reinforcement may result in a child who beleives that they can do no wrong.

 

[Nebulous]

Children should be not be offered rewards in the hopes that they will act in a certain manner, and positive consequences should never be offered before a behaviour is carried out. If it is, then parents can not know for sure whether a child acted a certain way because it was the right thing to do or because he was told to act a certain way and promised a prize for doing so.

I have been guilty of this though a few times. No big deal.