Debate

• Behaviourists

  Argue that conditioning techniques can be used to control behaviour
• Conditioning techniques

  • Done in hopes to encourage desirable behaviour whilst discouraging bad behaviour
  • Provide benefits to the child, teachers, schools and society
• Using conditioning techniques on children

  Removes their free will and causes the creation of a generation of 'selfish automatons'
• Naughty step

  A form of punishment that removes attention from the child, controlling behaviour as the child doesn't engage
• Attention received when a child is naughty

  Can be a positive reinforcement, may continue the behaviour
• Reward charts and praise

  Increase the frequency of good behaviour
• Children do not have the ability to reflect on their behaviour without empathy and help with feelings, this can have long-lasting impact on development
• Using conditioning techniques in the home

  Can be a useful tool to get children to behave appropriately
• Using the naughty step in the home

  May be more damaging than appropriate in controlling behaviour
• Using conditioning techniques on children removes some of their free will and individuality
• Operant conditioning applied consistently

  Can be an effective way to control the behaviour of children
• Inconsistent application of conditioning techniques by busy and tired parents

  Makes the conditioning technique ineffective at controlling the behaviour of the child
• Using money as a reward for behaviour is unethical in the real economic climate as many services are working on reduced budgets
• Using operant conditioning techniques on children in school

  May allow the improvement of pupil behaviour and decrease inappropriate talking in lessons
• Using operant conditioning on children

  Can damage a child's motivation to succeed and exclude pupils who were not offered a reward, making them feel like a failure
• Using conditioning techniques in schools may lead to better performance and educate young people, allowing them to become a better part of society
• Using conditioning techniques in schools may create a 'snowflake generation' - people who are motivated only by an external reward and not equipped for the real world
• Using classical conditioning techniques on children

  Can create a positive association with school, reducing anxiety and improving attendance and performance
• Conditioning techniques

  Do not always work on children and can sometimes have a detrimental impact on their performance within school
• Using operant conditioning on vulnerable children with autism

  Can help improve social interaction, language difficulties and self-care problems
• Using ABA therapy with operant conditioning on vulnerable children with autism

  May have a detrimental effect on their mental health, causing PTSD symptoms
• Vulnerable individuals may benefit from therapy using operant conditioning, allowing them to participate better in society and even gain employment