Theorist:
B.F. Skinner
Focus:
focusing on operant conditioning; the focus of this is a learning process in
which reinforcing consequences immediately following a response increases its
future likelihood and aversive consequences immediately following a response
decreases its future likelihood.
Strengths:
reward system for positive, acceptable behavior.
Weaknesses:
negative aspects of punishment, ranging from spanking or other forms of
physical punishment to time-outs or response-costs, less physical and more
emotional or material.
Personal
Example: My 7-year-old stepson
has severe behavioral issues causing him to act out violently towards others or
towards himself. We have implemented the reward/punishment system in our
household to try and help him make better choices. When he acts out inappropriately,
for example, when he hits his brother during a game, we remove him from the
area and make him sit on the couch. We ask him to take deep breaths and calm
down, and when he is ready, we ask him why he acted out the way that he did. If
he can calm down, explain to us what happened, and sincerely apologize to his
brother, he is allowed to go back and play. If he cannot calm himself down, we
take away the opportunity for him to play that game for the rest of the day.
