Punishment can only be a short-term solution

Dubai - Punishment makes students scared and avoidant of negative consequences.

Adopt positive reinforcing strategies simultaneously at home, school
To obtain a positive behavioural modification and possibly achieve a permanent change in the behaviour of a student, teachers can use several strategies that can be helpful and effective.
Punishment is the immediate negative consequence of a behaviour given to a student aimed at reducing that inappropriate behaviour. An example: A student is talking while the teacher is explaining and the teacher scolds him or gives extra homework, or detains that student in the class during break. The students learn that chatting in class is punishable by something that in some way harms him.
The effect of this approach seems effective, but in the long term is negative and not entirely effective as it does not allow students to understand why chatting during class is inappropriate or what the positive alternative is - listening to teachers.
A negative reinforcement occurs when a behaviour is reinforced and increases because the occurrence of a consequence that is negative. For example, a student did not do his homework so the teacher gives a bad mark. Making the homework in a poor way is negatively reinforced by the occurrence of a negative consequence. The student is helped to understand that to get a positive consequence, he has to increase a behaviour that is appropriate: make extra effort and do the homework better.
REALTED COVERAGE:
Are parents getting over conventional ideas of punishment?
Is punishment necessary in schools?
Are students learning better when punished
With punishment, the goal is to reduce a behaviour (chatting), but with negative reinforcement the goal is to increase an appropriate behaviour (pay attention and get good grades).
If we look at the positive reinforcement that usually is given through rewards, the goal is to increase the occurrence of a positive behaviour reinforcing it with a positive consequence: the student listens to the teacher and he is rewarded with a star as student of the day.
I believe in positive reinforcement. Long term goal of a positive and rewarding system is to help a student increase self esteem, behavioural self-regulation, making them responsible of their choices (positive and appropriate ones).
The reason why punishment might be unfortunately more effective in certain situations depends on many other elements to consider - culture, family environment and dynamics, parenting and teaching style.
But the best way to help students accomplish their goals is to adopt positive reinforcing strategies coherently at home and at school and find the balance between being positive but not too rewarding when it is not necessary. Parents should not buy a toy every time their child get a good mark. It is the effort that should be rewarded through praised and encouragement. This is more effective than any other strategy.
Punishment, however, makes students scared and avoidant of negative consequences. This makes them develop an idea that learning is associated with punishment to avoid.
The perspective
Dr. Valeria Risol (Clinical Psychologist at Dubai Physiotherapy & Family Medicine Clinic)

• Dubai