Behaviourist Debate Flashcards
What is the supporting argument for conditioning at home?
Conditioning techniques should be used to control the behaviour of children at home.
Outline the supporting argument for conditioning at home.
Operant conditioning has been used successfully in the home for things like night training to control their behaviour.
Give an example for the supporting argument of conditioning at home.
Benjamin et al conducted a questionnaire with 90 parents on their interactions with the child when learning to be dry at night. OC was found to be successful when night training. Specifically positive reinforcement (giving rewards).
Give an ethical implication for the supporting argument of conditioning at home.
Study focused on using positive reinforcement to increase desired behaviour. It focuses on the success not the punishment, ethically right.
Link the supporting argument of conditioning at home to the question.
This supports the idea that conditioning techniques should be used to control the behaviour of children as it increases the desired behaviour.
What is the opposing argument of conditioning at home?
Conditioning shouldn’t be used at home.
Outline the opposing argument for conditioning at home.
Conditioning may not be useful in the home as providing a reward may backfire due to the child always expecting a reward when they are asked to do something - it reduces intrinsic motivation.
Give an example for the opposing argument of conditioning at home.
Psychology today - OC reduces intrinsic motivation when teaching children not to lie. A study looked into whether lack of punishment increases the likelihood of moral behaviour. They found telling children stories that emphasise the negative consequences of lying aren’t effective in promoting honesty. More children said that the character should have told the truth if they weren’t punished by their parents when they tell the truth - desirable behaviour is more likely to be repeated when OC isn’t used.
Give a social implication for the opposing argument of conditioning at home.
Extrinsic motivation and using OC may decrease well-being as they don’t get joy/sense of fulfilment from the action.
Link the opposing argument of conditioning at home to the question.
Shows OC shouldn’t be used to control the behaviour of children as harm may outweigh the benefits.
What is the supporting argument for conditioning at school?
Conditioning should be used in school.
Outline the supporting argument for conditioning in school.
Conditioning can be used in education as it can teach children to behave well and help them learn.
Give an example for supporting argument for conditioning at school.
Sunrae - impacts of reward-based systems in Hong Kong primary schools. Research was conducted where praise-based management strategies was placed in a primary school. It used OC. They were rewarded when participated in education-related topics. After 4 weeks, only 1 student had a tick removed due to positive reinforcement. Shows that OC can be used to control behaviour of children as rewards increase positive behaviour.
Give a social implication of the supporting argument for conditioning at school.
Children who have been conditioned to behave well, will grow up to behave well-beneficial for wider society as they will cause less trouble.
Link the supporting argument for conditioning in school to the question.
Shows that OC should be used to control the behaviour of children in schools as it will have a positive effect on the wider society in the future.
What is the opposing argument for conditioning in education?
Conditioning shouldn’t be used in schools to control the behaviour in education.
Outline the opposing argument for conditioning in education.
Conditioning shouldn’t be used in schools as it decreases the child’s intrinsic motivation to learn - they are only learning for a reward, not self-satisfaction.
Give an example for the opposing argument of conditioning in education.
Psychology today - be careful using rewards in education. Lepper et al - a group of children were told they would get a reward for playing with markers, another group a surprise reward. Children who were told they would get a reward were less interested in playing than the other group.
Give a social implication of the opposing argument for conditioning in school.
Using rewards effectively in the classroom will create more educated children = more educated workers.
Link the opposing argument for conditioning in education to the question.
This opposes the idea that OC should be used in classrooms as rewards can reduce the intrinsic motivation of children.
What is the supporting argument for conditioning in vulnerable groups?
Conditioning should be used to control the behaviour of vulnerable groups.
Outline the supporting argument for conditioning in vulnerable groups.
Using OC to condition vulnerable groups can improve the child’s quality of life and well-being.
Give an example for the supporting argument for conditioning vulnerable groups.
Teaching reading using positive reinforcement to a child with ASD. Jimmy was given a cue from the teacher after a specific response, he was given a gumdrop. Later, even when the sweets ran out, he still performed well.
Give a social implication for the supporting argument for conditioning vulnerable groups.
May help members of vulnerable groups become integrated into society, improving their quality of life.
Link the supporting argument for conditioning vulnerable groups to the question.
Conditioning should be used to control the behaviour of VGs as it may reduce social isolation and treat disorders.
What is the opposing argument for conditioning vulnerable groups?
Conditioning shouldn’t be used to control the behaviour of vulnerable groups.
Outline the opposing argument for the conditioning of vulnerable groups.
Conditioning shouldn’t be used in vulnerable groups as techniques may be unethical.
Give an example for the opposing argument of conditioning vulnerable groups.
The Independent - school uses electric shocks on students with special needs were shocked from a GED. Offices have attempted to sue the school as it ‘doesn’t confirm to the accepted standard of care for treating people with disabilities’. However the judge ruled that they can carry on using electric shocks.
Give an ethical implication for the opposing argument for conditioning of vulnerable groups.
Electric shocks used may cause more damage beyond the conditioning process - this could be traumatising.
Link the opposing argument for conditioning vulnerable groups to the question.
Shows that harm overrules the benefits, conditioning shouldn’t be used if it creates a more serious risk to the child than the other factor.
