In this module, we studied behavioral theory, studies what are responses to our experience within the environment. In my home, positive and negative reinforcement is used. Verbal rewards like praises and encouragement are used. Getting grounded, confiscated devices, and not allowed to go outside.
I’m very competitive back in high school and praises were a big deal for me. It gave me courage to be the best at what I do. I got to achieve and have good grades. Those little praises are pleasant experience for me.
Radical Behaviorism claims that all our actions can be explained explained base of environmental factor. This view ignores biological and cognitive influences. For example, going home late at night is related to having fear of getting mugged. This leads to the behavior of avoiding going home late or being skeptical. There was a time where I was chased by a dog. That experience led me to be skeptical around stray dogs.
I personally have no problems with negative reinforcement. I don’t believe that getting punished for showing undesirable behavior to be inhuman or bad for a child. I think it’s necessary to learn that what they did is bad. Rather, if I have the chance to modify at school it would be a negative reinforcement. That would be the public criticism teachers give when a student fails or display a behavior that they don’t like. I experienced this and I believe it’s unnecessary to humiliate a student to point out their mistake and impose to other student using this method. Positive reinforcement is necessary in my point of view. I believe that boasting rights for those who achieved is not wrong. They did their best and it’s only natural to be praised for a job well done. Any honor given to them is well-deserved and those who achieved less are not supposed to be discouraged but be happy for their classmate and do their best if they want the same.
I want to make a peaceful environment. I want students to learn and make mistakes. I want them to be guided not by negative reinforcement. Punishments tend to have a bad effect on students behavior. It’s possible that they would rebel and not follow at all.
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