Using conditioning techniques to control the behaviour of children Flashcards
Gill (1998)
Found that paying children money resulted them to do 20% of all household chores.
Positive: They are learning the value of money, as this reflects what happens in the adult world, for example you got to work and earn money. And also convincing them to do household chores encourages them to learn basic life skills, (doing the laundry)
Negative: This conditions them to believe that mundane tasks should be rewarded, and that they should only do them when being rewarded rather than responsibility, which is unrealistic in the adult world/
Super nanny Jo Frost
Believes that operant conditioning is the best way to teach a child good behaviour. Good behaviour should be rewarded with reward charts, and telling your child well done. However, inappropriate behaviour should be either ignored or punished with ‘the naughty step’. Using these techniques consistently and calmly will teach children to face the consequences of their actions, encouraging a more healthier and happier household.
McAllister et al (1969)
Teacher Praise shown that it encouraged ‘appropriate talking’ in class. Shows the importance of operant conditioning in schools, and embraces using merit charts and other reward systems in schools in order to reward good behaviour
Lefrancois
Use conditioning techniques so students associate positive stimuli with positive feelings. Teachers should aim to create as many positive stimuli, (colours, pleasant smells) and try to reduce the amount of negative stimuli (shouting, criticism) as this would associate the lesson with something that is negative, whereas the former associates the lesson with positive feelings.
Robinson et al (1981)
Used conditioning techniques on children’s with ADHD and autism. Found that token economy is the best way for a child to improve on literacy skills and deal with hyperactivity issues. This reinforces more desirable behaviours from the child because it teaches them they will try to build up their tokens to receive an award.
Lovaas et al (ABA)
Used ABA to control the behaviour of children through social interaction in children with autism. The child was rewarded regularly but over time, the number of rewards were reduced and only given when the child displayed behaviour that is close to the target ideal.
Morris (2014)
The naughty step advocated by Super Nanny has longstanding negative emotional impacts on children, as they are not able to reflect appropriately on their behaviour, therefore conditioning techniques can be seen as quite ineffective and have a negative impact on moral development.
Another negative of the naughty step
Adults may not be calm and consisted when dealing with a child because every child’s temperament is different. In turn, this reduces the effectiveness of the conditioning techniques that the naughty step offers, and may actually negatively affect a Childs emotional development. Its important how this technique is carried out, therefore other skills should be used to control a Childs behaviour
Lepper
Disagrees with the use of conditioning techniques in nurseries. He found that in children who were offered an award to complete a task, they spent less time on it. This suggests that children are more motivated by the award than the intrinsic desire to succeed, therefor this is will stifle children in adult life.
Criticism of Lovaas
Loaves’ ABA therapy on autistic children averages around 40 hours per week. This means that the technique could be very costly and time consuming, and there would probably be more effective therapy out there that does not consist of conditioning techniques. For example, Anderson et al found that his therapy averages round 20 hours per week and with this found significant difference in the behaviour of autistic children.
There is also an ethical consideration of Lovaas’ research, as treating children with mental or psychological health concerns may be considered inappropriate. Because of this, the undesirable social behaviours may re-emerge after the therapy is finished, and the reinforcement was removed.
Ethical issues: Valid consent and Working with vulnerable individuals
Children are being conditions by adult without their knowledge or consent. Children are probably unaware of the situation due to the power imbalance proposed by a care giver and child, therefore they are unable to withdraw themselves from the circumstance, maybe out of fear of being punished further. Their free will to behave how they would like is removed by two environments of socialisation: Home and education
Ethical issue: Psychological harm
Morris proposed how techniques like the naughty step causes negative effect of emotional development. This may affect them later in life, out of fear of being punished for doing what they like. Corporal punishment like spanking and smacking will cause physical harm, if parents take negative reinforcement to far.
Economic Implications: Levitt Et al
Will benefit the economy as parents invest in reinforcing children to get better grades, therefore they will leave school with better grade, go to university and have a good job, therefore pumping money into the economy by contributing to society.
Economic implications: Forbes
Gen Z have been brought up on positive reinforcement and rewards. By the time they get a job, their expectations of jobs is higher than what it should be
