Positive punishment examples: Practical approaches for parents

At a playdate, Max gets frustrated when his friend, Lily, takes a toy he was playing with. In a moment of anger, Max pushes Lily to get the toy back. One of Max’s parents sees the incident, so they make Max sit in a timeout for a few minutes to calm down.

Or say, Jake, a 9-year-old, ignores his parents' rule about coming home by 4 p.m. and stays out playing with friends until 6 p.m. As a result, they take away Jake’s video game for a couple of days.

Are these positive punishment examples? Read on to learn how the technique works, see helpful examples of positive punishment, and explore its benefits and drawbacks. 

What is positive punishment?

Positive punishment is a technique used in operant conditioning to reduce unwanted behavior. It involves introducing something unpleasant as a consequence of an action that the parent or caregiver wants to decrease.

In this scenario, “positive” doesn’t mean good or beneficial. Instead, “positive” refers to “adding something,” while “punishment” refers to a “consequence that reduces the likelihood of a behavior happening again.”

For example, if a child throws a toy at a sibling, a parent might scold the child or assign an extra chore. Here, the scolding or chores are the "added" unpleasant consequence. The intention is not to be harsh but to discourage the child from repeating the behavior by associating it with discomfort or inconvenience.

Positive punishment vs Negative punishment

The main difference between positive vs negative punishment is how they affect the child’s environment. One works by adding discomfort, while the other removes rewards.

Positive punishment

Positive punishment involves adding an unpleasant action immediately after an undesirable behavior to discourage it from happening again. For example, if a toddler throws food at the table, positive punishment involves making them clean the mess themselves.

Another positive punishment example could be a teacher requiring a student who cheats on a test to write an apology letter. The goal is that the added consequence (the letter) will cause shame and serve as a deterrent. Over time, they will be less likely to cheat on a test to avoid the unpleasant consequence.

Negative punishment

On the other hand, negative punishment works by taking away something the child enjoys to decrease unwanted behavior.

For example, if a teenager breaks curfew, a parent might temporarily revoke their phone or other privileges. Similarly, a child who refuses to share toys might lose screen time for the day.

Removing something pleasant (e.g., access to a favourite gadget) teaches the child that their actions directly affect their privileges. 

Negative punishment is often seen as less confrontational than positive punishment, as it avoids introducing new discomfort and instead leverages existing motivators.

Examples of positive punishment for kids

Positive punishment can occur naturally or through external factors such as parents, teachers, or other authority figures. Here are some real-life positive punishment examples for kids.

• A parent grounds a child for a week for staying out past curfew without permission.
• A teacher detains a student during recess for not completing homework.
• Timeouts for hitting or aggressive behavior.
• A parent gives a child extra chores for bad behaviour.
• A teacher assigns additional reading or work after a student talks during class.
• A coach asks a player to run extra laps for slacking off during practice or ignoring instructions.
• A teacher tells a student to clean the marker board after being disruptive during the lesson.
• A parent tells a child to write “I will not lie” 50 times after they are caught in a lie.
• A parent gives a child a time-out after they hit their sibling.
• A teacher asks a student to write a story about following rules after disrupting the class.

Positive reinforcement vs. Positive punishment

The main difference between positive reinforcement and positive punishment is in the desired outcome and the type of consequence introduced. 

Positive reinforcement

In operant conditioning, positive means to “add something, " while reinforcement means to “encourage a behavior.” Combining both words means that positive reinforcement is a strategy used to encourage a behavior by adding something pleasant or rewarding after it occurs. 

The idea is that when a behavior is rewarded, it is more likely to be repeated. 

For example, if a child completes their homework on time and a parent rewards them with praise or extra playtime, they are likely to continue completing it on time. The praise and extra playtime serve as positive additions that reinforce good behavior.

Contrasting the two approaches

Positive reinforcement strengthens good behavior by adding a pleasant consequence. In contrast, positive punishment weakens bad behavior by adding an unpleasant consequence.

Effectiveness: Positive reinforcement is considered more sustainable and effective in the long term. It builds trust and a sense of accomplishment, leading to self-regulation and internal motivation. This aligns with the principles of positive psychology, which emphasize strengths, well-being, and personal growth. Positive punishment is effective in the short term, especially for quickly stopping highly undesirable behaviors, but it requires continuous use to maintain effectiveness.

Emotional impact: Positive reinforcement fosters a more positive emotional impact, such as feelings of motivation, satisfaction, and confidence. On the other hand, positive punishment could lead to negative emotional responses, such as frustration, resentment, or confusion.

Learning environment: Positive reinforcement creates a positive and supportive learning environment, while positive punishment can create a fearful or adversarial environment.

Benefits of positive punishment

Positive punishment is beneficial when it’s fair and consistent for a child. As such, a good punishment can provide the benefits below.

• Leads to immediate behavior change.
• Reinforces boundaries and establishes clear rules.
• Provides immediate feedback on unwanted behavior.
• Is easy to implement and doesn’t require complex plans or strategies.
• Can be quickly adapted to suit the context or severity of the behavior.
• Is low cost and doesn’t require special resources or materials.
• Teaches accountability.
• Doesn’t require special training.

Drawbacks of positive punishment

While positive punishment can effectively reduce undesirable behaviors, it has potential drawbacks and negative effects, including psychological effects on the child and adverse impact on the relationship between the person applying the punishment and the child receiving it.

• Repeated exposure to positive punishment, especially if it involves physical or harsh consequences, can increase the child’s aggression.
• If positive punishment is used too frequently, the child may learn to avoid punishment rather than correcting the behavior.
• The child might develop learned helplessness, feeling that no matter what they do, they cannot avoid punishment, leading them to give up trying to change their behavior.
• While positive punishment discourages unwanted behavior, it does not offer an alternative or teach the child what to do instead.
• Positive punishment contributes to feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, or helplessness. Over time, this can lead to depression.
• In extreme cases, positive punishment, when used excessively or unfairly, can contribute to suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
• Children subjected to regular or unpredictable punishment may develop anxiety about when the next punishment will occur.
• When positive punishment is overused or applied harshly, it can strain relationships between parents, teachers, and children.
• It is less effective in the long run when used alone.

Finding balance: Using positive punishment effectively

Positive punishment is useful in certain situations. However, it should be used carefully and in moderation. It’s most effective when combined with positive reinforcement, where desirable behaviors are rewarded, and the child is guided toward better alternatives. 

Overall, a balanced approach involves teaching positive behaviors, setting clear expectations, and offering support. This leads to more sustainable and healthy behavior change.

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