Is Classically Conditioning Children Ethical?

Question 1

Introduction and conlusion into classical research (4)

Answer 1

Using conditioning techniques is a highly controversial area because it involves manipulating behaviou
The person who’s behaviour you’re manipulating may have no knowledge of this
People may promote conditioning because they believe that it benefits children, parents and children.
If children are constantly being rewarded at home and school, may make children forget that they’re supposed to be doing stuff for morality, might make a child more greedy and selfish.
May make children more robotic, not have any sense of self.

Question 2

Vulnerable groups of children negative (3)

Answer 2

Lovaas dveeloped a conditioning method for autistic children called aba.
The research which supports its success was conducted by lovaas- experimenter bias
The research has methological flaws- no random allocation to control experimental conditions- which means there will be a lack of validity in the conclusions.

Question 3

In school negative (4)

Answer 3

Lepper et al (1973)- found children who were offered a reward for doing as drawing spent halls as much time on their drawing compared to children who weren’t promised anything
This shows that conditioning techniques can interfere with a child’s internal drive to learn

Question 4

Vulnerable groups of children positive

Answer 4

Lovaas (1987) developed ABA (applied behaviour analysis) to increase social interactions for children on the autism spectrum. Rewards are given for desirable social behaviour.
Robinson et al (1981)- demonstrated the effect of token economies with children with hypersensitivity issues. Tokens are given for good behaviour, which can then be exchanged for rewards

Question 5

At home positive. (2)

Answer 5

Parental controls over rewards increases positive behavioiur
Gill (1988)- asked parents to pay pocket money for completion of chores (positive reinforcement) and withhold pocket money for the non-completion of chores (punishment). She concluded that reinforcement was successful because children completed around 20% of household chores.

Question 6

In school positive (3)

Answer 6

Operant and classical conditioning is used in schools. Positive reinforcements can include gold stars, merits, house points and praise
McAllister et al (1969) looked at secondary schools English classes nd found that when praise was increased for behaviour and disapproval was increased for inappropriate talking, there was a decrease in inappropriate behaviour (compared to the control group where there was no decrease in behaviour)

Question 7

At home negative. (5)

Answer 7

It’s argued that I can have long term emotional effects
Children do not have the same ability as an adult to reflect on their behaviour or verbalize their feelings
An issue with reinforcement and conditioning at home is consistency
Conditioning techniques are likely to be less effective as seen on TV shows like supernanny as parents may struggle to consistently follow conditioning techniques all the time
Also if children are in different care (eg childminder, different parents houses) the conditioning will lack consistency