Few would argue that a major task confronting our schools is to induce individuals to behave responsibly and to demonstrate a degree of self control. Traditional methods adopted to achieve this aim emphasized pressure from without, the use of rewards and punishments which attempted to make students behave in certain ways.
According to Balson (1992), the most powerful technique which is available to teachers to induce responsible social behavior in their students is the use of behavioral consequences. The rational of this approach is that all behavior is shaped and maintained by its consequences, and that individuals will not continue to behave in ways which distress or harm nobody but themselves. There are two types of behavioral consequences: natural and logical.
Natural behavior consequences represent the routine effects of reality or the natural flow of events without interference from parents or teachers. The technique of applying natural consequences of behavior; the student acts or does not act properly and the teacher permits the student to receive natural consequences of the behavior Teachers do not scold, threaten, argue, or preach, but simply express their regrets.
There are, unfortunately, few natural consequences available within classrooms, while some which are, would involve an unacceptable element of physical danger. However, the application of logical consequences are guided and arranged by the teacher, the group, or another adult, and are designed to let the reality of the social order impress the child, rather than the authority of the teacher. Many teachers find it difficult to distinguish between punishment and behavioral consequences. There are a number of important distinctions between the two, examples are:
Teachers are responsible for student behavior.
Concerned with past and always retaliatory.
An arbitory connection between the behavior and its consequences.
Based on superior-inferior relationship between teachers and students.
Always personalized and involves moral judgment.
No alternative or choice of behaviors is given by the teacher.
Voice, relationship, and atmosphere reflect anger and resentment
Expresses the power of a personal authority.
Implies that teachers know what is best for students.
Students are responsible for their own behavior
Concerned with the present and not retaliatory.
A logical connection between the behavior and its consequences.
Based on concept of equality and worth between teachers and students.
Impersonal and involves no moral judgments.
Students always have the right to decide between several behaviors
Voice, relationship, and atmosphere are friendly when consequences are invoked.
Expresses the reality of the social order or the situation.
Implies that students are capable of managing their own lives.
To clarify the differences between punishment and behavioral consequences, read the following incidents and indicate whether the teacher used logical consequences (LC), natural consequences (NC), or punishment(P).
Instructions: Simply click on your choice from the options provided
Instructions: In this quiz there are 6 questions with multiple answers. Simply click on the answer you think is correct, then on the ‘Show Answer’ button to find out the correct answer. When you have finished the quiz your results will be displayed.
