Parenting with Operant Conditioning
How Operant Conditioned Learning Plays a Role in Parenting
What is Operant Conditioned Learning?
Positive Reinforcement!
Example : Linda is told by her mother that she must clean her room by the time she arrives from work. Linda's mother arrives to find Linda cleaned her room and rewards her by giving her an extra half hour of television privileges. Linda then continues to do as she is asked due to positive reinforcement!
Negative Reinforcement!
Example : Jacob is doing poorly in school because he is being bullied. When his parents find out, they go speak to the school principle and have the bully removed from his classes. Jacob then begins to do much better and excel at school.
Punishment!
Example : Tim does not do his homework when he is asked to, resulting in him losing his allowance for the week. This is removing positive reinforcement to stop Tim's behaviour.
Example 2 : Anna likes to tease her little brother. Every time she teases her brother her parents give her an extra list of chores to do. This is adding negative reinforcement to stop Anna's behaviour.