Chapter 9: Problem 4

What principles of modeling should parents consider when rewarding and punishing their children? Provide reasons for your answer.

Short Answer

Expert verified

Three key principles parents should consider when rewarding or punishing their children are: Consistency (keeping their reactions consistent to avoid confusion); Appropriateness (punishments or rewards must match the action and the child's understanding); and Reinforcement (repeat rewards or punishments to reinforce the association between actions and consequences).

Step by step solution

Principle 1: Consistency

Parents must maintain consistency in their reactions to specific behaviors. If a behavior is rewarded one day and then punished the next, it may lead to confusion and uncertainty in a child's mind. The intention is to associate consequences with specific actions, thereby teaching children about pays-off and accountability.

Principle 2: Appropriateness

Punishments or rewards should always be appropriate to the child's action and level of understanding. Excessively severe punishment or undue rewards can mislead them and fail to instill the intended lesson. Therefore, keep the child's age, maturity level, and the severity of their action in mind while deciding on a consequence.

Principle 3: Reinforcement

Reinforcement is another critical principle of modeling. Parents should reinforce behaviors they want to encourage in their child. This can be done by rewarding good actions and behaviors as this will inspire repetition of such actions. Conversely, punishing bad behavior could discourage the child from repeating it. However, always remember to balance this with principle 1 and 2.

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What principles of modeling should parents consider when rewarding and punishing their children? Provide reasons for your answer.

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Principle 1: Consistency

Principle 2: Appropriateness

Principle 3: Reinforcement

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