For years, many people
have imposed rewards on children to develop good behavior. They believe that
rewards are necessary supplements to encourage better behavior. Supposedly,
they contend, children who receive rewards understand these as a sign of
appreciation from parents or adults and therefore, they will behave well and
maintain their good attitudes. On the other hand, punishments are said to be
effective to correct children’s misbehavior. However, rewards have a more
positive effect on children’s behavior than punishments do.
Punishments are known for being
disciplinary measures so that children’s will not misbehave, do appropriate
attitudes, or make children understand that consequences can happen if they do
not behave well in the future (Morrisey 2010; Thompson 2011). Contrary
to the initial intention, children who often get harshly punished will have
conflicting ideas of the punishments themselves. Children are afraid of making
similar mistakes because of punishments they will face; however, they will
think that it is tolerable if they punish other people in the same way (Morrisey
2010, p. 1; Effective-Parenting-Tips.com
2009). Additionally, Marshall (2008) points out that these children cannot
attempt to alter their misbehaviors into good and proper behaviors under forced
and fearful situations.
Interestingly, children accept rewards better
than punishments. Research has shown that the basal ganglia, an area of the
brain located outside the cerebral cortex, reacts strongly to positive inputs. Rewards
have more positive effects on children’s feeling. Therefore, it is easier for children
to know that their actions are acceptable since rewards are only given to
reinforce their good manners (e! Science News 2008). Rewards, in addition, are needed to
acknowledge one’s effort to do well. Rewards contain information of positive
results attained (Pierce, et.al. 2003, p. 563).
Nevertheless,
rewards have some drawbacks related to children’s motivation. Although parents
or adults give rewards whenever the children display an expected behavior or
performance, these rewards are only external factors that cause the children to
work well. Rewards also do not build their intrinsic motivation, and as a
result, these children literally only aim for the rewards. They will care less
if no rewards are provided. Furthermore, they will also look for bigger and
significant rewards if they do something that requires much more effort (Marshall
2008). For example, if they get a hand phone after getting A for all school
subjects, then later, they will expect for more valuable rewards if they
successfully perform well next time. These issues, however, could be overcome if
parents or adults take into account what kinds of rewards are suitable for
their children; in this way, rewards can have meaningful values for children.
Despite these
disadvantageous, rewards are still considered capable of encouraging children’s
will to work harder and keep good attitudes compared to punishments. Because children
are young and sensitive, certainly, constructive and attractive feedbacks from
parents or adults are more beneficial.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
No comments:
Post a Comment