Question

"It's useful to use 'threats' and 'rewards' in rearing a child.

Why is this so useful?"
A) Because it ensures children always receive what they want.
B) Because it promotes a balanced approach to discipline and motivation.
C) Because it simplifies parenting by eliminating the need for communication.
D) Because it avoids emotional and psychological development in children.

Answer 1

Using 'threats' and 'rewards' in raising children promotes a balanced discipline and motivation approach through operant conditioning and behavior modification. These practices reinforce positive behavior and correct negative ones, with careful use of punishment to avoid adverse effects. The correct option is B) Because it promotes a balanced approach to discipline and motivation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The use of 'threats' and 'rewards' in rearing a child can be useful because it promotes a balanced approach to discipline and motivation. This is not about always giving children what they want (A) or avoiding the development of their emotional and psychological skills (D), nor about simplifying parenting by eliminating communication (C). Instead, it is about using positive reinforcement and appropriate consequences to help teach children responsibility, accountability, and to foster their social and emotional development.

For example, rewarding a child for positive behavior, such as cleaning a room or reading books, reinforces the behavior and encourages it to be repeated. This principle is based on operant conditioning, where behaviors are learned and conditioned over time, either through rewards or behavior modification.

Punishment may sometimes be necessary to decrease undesirable behaviors but should be used carefully, as it can have negative consequences, such as teaching fear or promoting aggression.