Stages of Discipline

Question 1

What are the 4 Stages of Discipline?

Answer 1

• Stage 1: RECALCITRANT BEHAVIOR
  (The Power Stage: Might Makes Right!).
• Stage 2: SELF-SERVING BEHAVIOR
  (The Reward/Punishment Stage: “What’s in It for Me?”)
• Stage 3: INTERPERSONAL DISCIPLINE
  (The Mutual Interpersonal Stage: “How Can I Please You?”)
• Stage 4: SELF-DISCIPLINE
  (The Social Order Stage: “I Behave Because it is the Right Thing to Do.”)

Question 2

What are the students’ characteristics for the Stage 1: Recalcitrant Behavior?

Answer 2

• Recalcitrant in their behaviour.
• Refuse to follow directions.
• Defiant and require attention.
• Out of fear of reprisal, may follow the rules of others.
• Most beyond by age 4 or 5, but a few still at this level.

Question 3

What are the implications for intervening with students at Stage 1: Recalcitrant Behavior?

Answer 3

• Assertive teachers with a constant eye on these students can keep them in line. Turn your back on them, and they are out of control.
• If these students want something, they usually just take it. They show very little concern for the feelings of others. They seek out extensions of power. Pencils, scissors, and rulers become weapons in their hands.

Question 4

What are the students’ characteristics for the Stage 2: Self-Serving Behavior?

Answer 4

• Little easier to handle in the classroom.
• Small percent of the youngsters we teach.
• Individualistic morality.
• Self-centered.

Question 5

What are the implications for intervening with students at Stage 2: Self-Serving Behavior?

Answer 5

• Need constant supervision.

- They may behave quite well in your classroom and then be out of control in the halls on the way to their next class.

Question 6

What are the students’ characteristics for the Stage 3: Interpersonal Discipline?

Answer 6

• Most of the youngsters in middle and junior high schools. - Started to develop a sense of discipline.
• Behave because you ask them.
• Mutual interpersonal stage.
• Care what others think about them, and they want you to like them.

Question 7

What are the implications for intervening with students at Stage 3: Interpersonal Discipline?

Answer 7

• Need gentle reminders.
• You ask them to settle down and they do.
• Assertive discipline works with these students because they understand it, but they rarely need such a heavy handed approach to classroom discipline.
• You need to let him know that his good behavior is important to you not only in your classroom, but in others’ as well.
• Nurture this youngster and you will see quick progress. Be unnecessarily assertive and he will slip back to Stage 2.

Question 8

What are the students’ characteristics for the Stage 4: Self-Discipline?

Answer 8

• Rarely get into any trouble at all.
• Sense of right and wrong.
• Many middle school and junior high school students at this level, only a few consistently do.
• These are the youngsters we enjoy working with so much. You can leave these kids alone with a project and come back 20 or 30 minutes later and find them still on task.
• They behave because, in their minds, it is the right thing to do.

Question 9

What are the implications for intervening with students at Stage 4: Self-Discipline?

Answer 9

• Do not appreciate assertive discipline.

- Bothered by the fact that other students force teachers to use so much class time dealing with discipline problems.