why is punishment more effective then reward on teenagers??/?

Question

i have a debate tmr. the motion is reward is more effective then punishment. i am in the opposition.... HELP!!!!! i am focusing on teens.

Answer 1

Punishment is effective on everyone,fear is the only thing that keeps humans in line.

Answer 2

Too bad you're on the wrong side of this debate. However, let's try this: We like to use "consequences" as a disciplining tool with teens...things like withdrawal of privileges and things they really like. "Consequences" is just a euphemism for punishment, because it isn't positive reinforcement. (This is a false argument, but see if it passes.)
Also, if the teen is not behaving appropriately, there would be no reward, right? The withholding of a reward is the "consequence" of the behavior. So, it's a punishment, too. Also, reward can be seen as bribery, because good behavior has to come from oneself, not from some external force. Hope these ideas help you somehow.

Answer 3

Neither side can win since you are debating two different points.

Punishment over reward? For What?

My kid comes home on the deans list.Do I punish or reward him for that?

Punish him so he never does it again?

I think reward would be better.

My daughter stole her moms car when she was 15.

She totaled it.

Her Punishment, a new Mustang GT.

Was it effective?

She wrecked 3 cars before she was 18.

Thank God she buys her own now.

So reward is always more effective than punishment.

If not, our prisons would not be full of so many repeat offenders.

Whoever assigned this topic did not give you much of a chance.

Its like trying to prove a negative.

I would tell the teacher or whatever just that.

Answer 4

Hmmmm....it is hard when you don't quite agree with the statement. You might want to focus on the fact that teens are more independent than young children. They are capable of getting things for themselves so rewards have a diminished value to them. They are also more concerned about being embarrassed. Being the only person in their group who was unable to attend a dance because of something s/he did could be a good motivator.

Answer 5

All I can think of are the negative points but I guess it supports your argument anyway. It may be more effective because the kids are scared or annoyed by it. Punishment sucks and sometimes kids will reluctantly do what they have to do just to avoid it. I followed rules sometimes just to make my life easier and to avoid fights over my 'punishment'. If given the choice of coming home by curfew or staying out later and facing a fight with my mom and a week of being grounded, I'd choose coming home on time just so that my quality of life didn't suffer. I wouldn't do it out of respect for the rules, only because I didn't want to deal with the hassle of getting in trouble. In more extreme cases, kids might listen to their parents because they are afraid of abusive punishment like getting punched if they don't follow the rules. Crappy parenting but it can scare kids into staying in line (that is, if the kids don't run away from home instead)

In the 'real world', people don't get rewarded just for being law abiding citizens. You mess up, you go to jail. You break the rules at work and you might get fired. Kids have to learn that there are consequences for 'bad' behavior, not just rewards for good behavior. Rewarding them is nice but then how would a parent deal with a 'good' kid when that kid finally does something bad? Just not give them the reward? That means they get away with doing the 'bad' thing. It's like when parents pay kids for good report card grades. They make money for getting As and Bs but nothing happens if they get an F? They should have to pay the parents money of they get an F (which would be 'punishment') Bribing kids only teaches them to care about things in life if they get some sort of material/personal gain out of it. If there's no 'reward' involved, kids may begin to not care about trying anymore because there's nothing in it for them.
Good luck with this one!

*In all honestly, it really didn't help me, it only made me lie and sneak around more. In school, we were punished with one day of detention for every three days that we were marked late. To avoid the detention, I would just skip school entirely on days that I was running late rather than end up with detention. I just gave up trying because I wanted to avoid the punishment. I had depression and lateness problems and it's not like I was 'rewarded' for trying to get to school on time, only punished for not being perfect.

Answer 6

They take the rewards for granted. Teenagers think that they have a RIGHT to all the benefits and rewards, without putting in any effort.

Answer 7

Heyy!!
one argument you can use is the "you give an inch and they take a mile" scenario....for example, if you kinda not punish your kid and "forgive" her/his wrongdoing, than they kind of push you further the next time, as you do not seem firm....

However, I think you'll have a hard time fighting this case, so why don't you acknowledge the prop and than say BUT....i don't know, but gd luck in your debate 2ml

Answer 8

Says who? Ever read anything on social and emotional intelligence? Also food sensivities play a role in behavior. Take heed.