▲ Parents should use compensation carefully to raise their child correctly.

Have you ever heard your parents telling you that if you get a good score in a test, they will buy you a smartphone? We receive good job stickers in kindergarten if we get a good score. These are examples of using compensation mentality. According to the reinforcement theory of Burrhus Frederic Skinner, reinforcement makes one behavior a habit, and choosing a reinforcer is important to make it a habit. However, it has negative effects on some children.

▲ We experienced a lot of compensations such as good job stickers in kindergarten.

Some children tend to be obsessed with compensation. If a father promised his son to give him good job stickers if he bows to adults, the son will bow to every adult like a robot just to get stickers. When children meaninglessly behave to get compensation, those behaviors are not effective to them. Thus, we have to consider how to let them behave with their whole heart.

▲ It is best to choose inner compensation, such as happiness and enjoyment, not objects.

If you can, it is best to choose inner compensation, such as happiness and enjoyment, not objects the positive emotions will lead them to behave more and more naturally. However, when using objective as compensations, you should use them carefully. First, manage the number of reinforcers. If you give a large number of good job stickers to your daughter, she may find it urgent to fill the sticker board as soon as possible. Also, you should give the compensations with strict rules. if you compensate according to your mood, your child will lose the willpower to do good behavior and leave these to chance. Remember that compensation can be a poison.

May 11th, 2019

By 송주연