Is it possible to deter bad behavior without using punishment of some sort?

Question

It's a purely academic question - just looking for different POVs.

Answer 1

In the behavioral literature, and ethically, you should first find out the function or the "why" the behavior is occuring. Once you do that, you can determine your intervention or consequence. Additionally, and ethically, you should try positive measures first... Reinforcement (Differential, Positive, Negative, Noncontingent, etc..).

For example, if you are trying to deter aggression, you should first find out why the student is aggressing. Is it to gain access to an item or social attention (positive reinforcement) or to gain access to escape from task or situation (negative reinforcement).

And, for example, if you found out aggression was maintained by access to attention, you would then implement a reinforcement system where you differentially reinforce behavior. Like reinforce (with attention) ANY time the student is not engaging in aggression. Or provide a replacement behavior (e.g., saying excuse me) and reinforcing that behavior (again, with attention). Usually, the positive interventions are paired with extinction (withholding reinforcement) when aggression occurs.

So, yes it is possible. It's been highly documented in behavioral literature. See Journal of APplied Behavior Analysis.

http://seab.envmed.rochester.edu/jaba/jabaindx.asp

Answer 2

Yes as a mother of three I have rarely if ever had to punish my children. I did this and still do it by letting them know that the consequences for bad behavior is not worth the behavior. I have three daughter's two of whom are on their own and doing very well and the youngest is a honor student at her high school and one of the most popular students in her grade. So I must be doing something right.

Answer 3

It is possible to encourage good behavior through praise and treats (food for animals, stickers for kids). You could ignore the bad behavior but that only works if the behavior is occuring to get your attention. Else you need to come up with a punishment that fits the crime and stick with it. If something bad has no consequences, why would anyone stop?

Answer 4

Sorry, yet whilst a coach advised me that I *had* to do actual corrections to get the message for the period of with my canine, i might %. up and flow away. that's no longer being a wimp or a pu88y, i don't have self assurance in being a bully to a kinfolk canine. maximum of those adult men who think of like this have a severe character illness. If the instructor lots as TOUCHED my canine with an aggressive correction, the instructor might see precisely how lots of a pu88y me and my .40 5 are earlier they have been given rushed to the emergency room. There are a time and a place for actual corrections. some breeds and a few canine want some thing to wake them up. yet to sit down down here and say which you're no longer training in case you're no longer hitting and shoving your canine is irresponsible and outright abusive. you attempt that crap with countless the greater delicate breeds, comfortable Collies, Italian Greyhounds, Greyhounds, and that they won't in any respect have faith you and could concern you. My canine gets an 'uh-uh' to superb her. wager what? She listens and corrects. If she does not, we end and artwork on the undertaking till that's corrected. No screaming, shouting, hitting, slapping, shoving, punching, or tackling her. we don't even snap the leash because of the fact we don't want leash or collar concern. yet, my pal's extensive-unfold Poodle won't hear to a rattling situation everyone says as quickly as her recommendations is desperate on some thing. a rapid snap from a prong or choke collar used wisely might wake this canine up. Waking a 75lb canine up with a mild kick interior the butt is a few thing thoroughly distinctive than punishing the canine for no longer listening. Sorry, yet once you will possibly desire to continuously be using no longer elementary actual corrections and struggling with with the canine, no remember the collar, your canine isnt experienced right, the canine is incabable of being experienced right, and/or you're doing some thing incorrect. The canine *might desire to* be waiting to respond to a quiet verbal command. And if a "wimp" like me can do it, why can no longer those sort of massive solid adult men? possibly they're people who want turtles. . .

Answer 5

Try positive reinforcement.

To the one who gave me the thumbs down:
Yeah, I guess your right, rewarding or praising good behavior in a child is not the thing to do, even though over time this child would learn that the attention he/she receives for such behavior is better then that received from being or doing something bad!
I now subscribe to your philosophy, and will NEVER praise or reward my children for the good things they do! Thank you, you have save me from years of heart ache from a disobedient child!

Answer 6

Nope. You have to reward for the good AND punish for the bad, or all that will happen is that your kid will do bad things to convince you they are doing good for the treats. That is life: there are consequences to what you do. It is essential to teach people to avoid doing bad behavior from an early age, and that means punishment. Doesn't have to be physical, but it has to be there.

Answer 7

Could we be speaking of child psych? If children are spoken with and not to. If they are led and not let to wander. If their parents have sense enough to pour pee out of a boot there is hope. There is a thing called positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement coupled with redirection. Look em up.

Answer 8

Give a child attention when there behavior is good. Ignore them when they do something bad.

Answer 9

No, punishment is the answer to all of lifes problems.

Answer 10

Use shaping to encourage alternative, good behaviour.