That programme, "House of Tiny Tearaways", appears to give the impression that a child's behaviour can be radically altered - and permanently - in under a week. Is this actually possible, or is the programme just shallow entertainment?
(I am not a parent and so have no experience of my own)
2006-10-01 11:20:36 · 8 answers · asked by Snowth 4 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
No, you cannot drastically alter anyones behaviour in under a week, but I don't think that's really what the programmes are saying. The behaviour specialists on these programmes use VERY simple psychological techniques known as classical and operant conditioning. I answered another question on classical/operant conditioning a few days ago so if you want to know the ins and outs of them please do check my profile. Briefly though, classical conditioning is learning through association, a child may learn to associate good behaviour with a reward for example. Operant conditioning is learning through reinforcement and punishment. Reinforcement is ALWAYS to increase a behaviour, punishment is ALWAYS to decrease a behaviour. There are variances in the technique of both reinforcement and punishment which I have listed and explained in my previous answer.
These techniques, to be honest, are simply the outline of basic discipline and encouragement of desired behaviour. I don't think I would be wrong to say pretty much ALL parents adopt them in some way, but they fail at either getting the balance right (only punishing bad behaviour and ignoring good for example) or simply being too lazy to be consistent with them. THIS is where the problems arise. What you see on programmes such as 'Supernanny' etc are the specialists being completely consistent and contingent in treating the good and bad behaviour of the children. The reason the children suddenly become so angelic is because they have regular feedback on their behaviour (good or bad) something their parents have obviously failed to do in the first place. Whilst none of these techniques have immediate perfect results, they can be extremely effective, but only if they are maintained. If once the specialist has gone the parents do not continue to follow the techniques demonstrated by him/her, the children would be back to being uncontrollable within days. Children need consistent and contingent feedback and action taken on their behaviour. If a child is punished one day for hitting a younger sibling, but the next day the same behaviour is ignored because the parent cannot be bothered with explaining again why the child cannot hit their sibling and an appropriate action is not taken then what does the child learn? Nothing, s/he gets confused and also quickly realises that most of the time they can do as they please as mum and dad are too lazy to correct them.
I hope this makes sense to you, but feel free to send me a message if you want me to further explain something. In short, no specialist can turn children into perfect angel-zombies within a week. However, they can help create consistent and effective parenting, which will, in time improve a childs behaviour.
Bad children are not born-they are created by lazy parents!
All the best!
2006-10-02 05:26:52 · answer #1 · answered by Giorgie 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
programmes such as what you have mentioned pick their subjects well with I dare say a lot of research and background. For every family there would have been thousands rejected. They pick the families who have the worst problems for maximumeffect and to show they do their job well. Done by reducing the parents to thinking they are the worst parents from hell and that the child's problem is their fault and not the child's. So yes in one week of intense therapy they would change the patterns of behaviour so drastic because they have picked the very worst to work with and also ones they can work with. What we do not see are the thousands not worked with or the ones they have tried to work with and not been successful as this is not good television is it?
2006-10-02 01:23:59 · answer #2 · answered by momof3 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Children respond to praise and rewards such as telling them how good, clever they are and why etc.and if they have previously been deprived such treatment or consistently been told they are useless, bad etc. a dramatic change can certainly occur very quickly given that the new treatment continues and the old negative comments stop.
2006-10-01 11:26:58 · answer #3 · answered by pol 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
yes it can when they are so young, it 's all about listening to them and what they need,
they need routine and discipline,
you need to be the adult but show them enough love and attention,
you also need to listen but remember they don't have much experience of the world and their understanding is not quite what yours is so they can be irrational, eg they may play up at bedtime because they have some irrational fear, like they won't wake up, or there is something in their wardrobe etc.
food and allergies are also a big problem that if looked into and sorted can work wonders.
All children need love, understanding, guidance, and discipline, if you are unsure of your parenting skills ask a professional for advice, i.e. a granparent.
2006-10-01 11:34:38 · answer #4 · answered by what? 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
shallow entertainment!!!! Mother of 3, grandmother of 5
2006-10-01 13:13:18 · answer #5 · answered by Cassie 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think if that did happen it would be quite a miracle. Changes in a kid's behavior generally take longer than that, unless you do something REALLY drastic.
2006-10-01 11:22:46 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
everything on t.v. is shallow entertainment, that is what t.v. is for escapism, and also to frighten you with propaganda
2006-10-01 11:30:03 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
you watch that program in America too?
2006-10-01 11:29:21 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋