Positive Reinforcement Essay

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Paper 608 #2 “Positive Reinforcement as a Method of Behavioral Management” Erin M Verley Norda 10 SPED/Semester 3 02/14/13 Inappropriate behavior incomparably disrupts both individual learning and the possibilities for a SPED student’s immersion into classroom inclusion, not to mention acceptance by peers and society. Emerging research suggests that the past favored behavioral/classroom management technique of punishment is punitive in nature and does not teach the child any useful lesson. Consequences are now preferred at the end of a child’s inappropriate act, an action that makes sense and is a logical outcome. Even more so is the idea of Positive Reinforcement, a form of the aforementioned consequence, but more so as logical outcome to on task or exceptional behavior. The basic definition of positive reinforcement is thus; adding a result or consequence that the child finds pleasant, dependent on the occurrence of a certain on task or exceptional behavior by the child. This results in an increase in the likelihood of that behavior or response in the child. The mere fact that it does not use punishment, intimidation, yelling, degradation, humiliation, shame, guilt or other things that can hurt the child, their self-esteem, or their relationship with their teacher has made positive reinforcement popular around the world and used in many classrooms. One of the important terms to remember when implementing this method as a classroom technique is reinforcers. Reinforcers are anything that motivate the child in question and can range from tangible items to pleasurable activities or social recognition. When the desired behavior is done by the child, a reward known as a reinforcer is presented to the child. These can be rewards that are both inherently fulfilling (choice of activities, praise and compliments, pats on the back, public praise,
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