Positive Re-enforcement...what do you think about using it as a method for raising children?

I assume you know, then, that "positive reinforcement" is a form of behavioral manipulation in which the more powerful person uses tricks to get less powerful persons to behave in ways acceptable to the powerful person.

I assume you can figure out what this is called (other than "behavioral manipulation").

It may have slipped past the class that ANY behavior toward another person is "positive" when it is done, and "negative" when it is NOT done. Thus a kind word as well as a whack on the head are both "positive" because they are something that is done. Saying nothing or doing nothing is "negative" in that nothing is being done.

I prefer an educational rather than a manipulative approach. The best I know of is almost a century old, the result of Dr. Alfred Adler's democratic approach to child-raising children. It was made pop[ular by Dr. Rudolph Dreikurs some decades ago, and also by Drs. Donald Dinkmeyer and Gary McKay. It involves helping children to learn from the consequences of their own behavior. There are two basic kinds of consequences: Natural, and logical:

Natural consequences arise from the logic of the natural or physical order. For example, “If you touch something hot, you’ll get burned” or “If you don’t eat, you’ll get hungry.”

Logical consequences arise from the logic of the social order, that is, from social interactions and one’s place in the community. For example, “If you are nasty, people will avoid you,” or “If you are a friend to others, they will be friendly to you.”

There is a specific procedure for "setting up" logical consequences for children to learn from. There are three "Rs" of Logical Consequences:

A logical consequence is Reasonable

A logical consequence is Respectful

A logical consequence is Related

The following web site contains information that can helpf you understand the idea better, and implement it with your child(ren).

http://www.rpeurifoy.com/parentng/logiccon.htm

Dr. Bob, Adlerian psychologist

I have no children and have not practiced with positive reinforcement but I can tell you that many studies show that positive reinforcement is a great motivator. However I do recall learning in class that the positive reinforcement should be intermittent such that the reward is not expected every single time the action is completed. If the positive reinforcement is constant, this can apparently lead to the reward no longer being as rewarding and essentially creating a perpetual cycle of greater reward seeking. What this means for parents is that positive reinforcement is great as long as the reward does not start off as a pat on the back and eventually move to getting chocolate then an ipod then a car etc. I think it would be great if parents were exposed to positive reinforcement. Great job in raising your kids in such a positive environment and taking in active role in the shaping of their lives.

Yeah that would be good! I read this in a psychology magazine and I found this interesting. They said not to give children money, prizes, toys, etc for good grades because then they don't learn appreciation for accomplisment in it of itself. They need to learn to be happy with A's not because they are going to get a new toy but that they worked hard.

Also, read 'Learned Optimism" by Martine E. Seligman. It is fascinating! He explained that most forms of depressio are caused from a poor explanatory style. It is basically whether a person is an optimist or a pessimist. The explanatory style is formed from the parents, meaning how the parents raise the children. It is really interesing yous hould read it!!!

Works for dogs! haha no but seriously I think it's fine as long as they continue the good behavior and you don't give them so many rewards that they feel like they don't need them anymore.

Do not call them degraded names like dumb, stupid, fat or skinny bones

but don't let em drive you nuts.

Well , postively they don't get to go outside if they miss behave instead they have to wash dishes, or dust unless they are allgric to dust,

or fold clothes, or clean the pet change.