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Originally posted by Thoran:
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punishment and negative reinforcement are two different things.
"Punishment" modifies an undesireable behavior by adding a negative to the target's environment (a spank on the behind when the child tries to touch the stove).
"Negative reinforcement" reinforces a positive behavior by removing something the target views as negative. (removing a curfew and letting the child stay out later when he gets good grades)
BTW... taking away the kids playstation would be more accurately classified as "extinction", modifying an undesireable behavior by removing something positive from the targets environment.
Since I did the other three, the fourth behavioral modification term is "Positive Reinforcement", or reinforcing a positive behavior by adding something positive to the targets environment. (give the kid a playstation for getting good grades)
Dang, I *knew* my foggy memory of undergrad psych was going to get me into trouble if I pretended to know what I was talking about! [img]smile.gif[/img]
Fact remains the kid was suitably punished/reprimanded for his actions. If his parents made him read their ebay statement (as they probably did), I'm sure he got the message.
I do agree, however, that the tone of it *might* lead to problems down the road, IF the kid stays immature. Too bad the problem couldn't have been nipped in the bud earlier (Uh-oh, does that belong in the cliche thread??).