Jeff was a four-year-old who often misbehaved (hitting his brother, interrupting his parents, leaving toys around the house). His parents were determined that he should learn to "do right.". Any deviations from correct behavior were dealt with quickly and efficiently through spankings, taking away privileges, and scoldings. They carried through on their belief that Jeff needed to know that

Question

misbehavior would always be punished. Jeff's parents did not believe it was necessary to offer Jeff explanations. What explanation can you offer for Jeff's high level of misbehavior?

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

If Jeff's parents have a generally warm relationship with their son, Jeff will probably respond to the consistency of their reactions and be a well-behaved child in their presence or when there is likelihood of getting caught. Evidence suggests, however, that if the child has been given no rationales to internalize, the child will lack internal verbal mediators on which to rely when the parents are absent or when there is little chance of getting caught. The result will likely be a child who has not been provided the basis for self-control and mature reasoning about various situations. It is likely that without explanations, Jeff has not acquired the self-control and mature reasoning needed to keep his behavior under control when no parent is present. His misbehavior in the presence of his parents may be inadvertently reinforced with parental attention. Jeff's parents might try using time-outs as a consequence of Jeff's misbehavior.