Johnnie, a 2-year-old, is about to empty a full ashtray onto the carpet when his mother shouts, "No, no, Johnnie!" and gives his hand a mild slap. Johnnie's father then argues that she should have let Johnnie dump the ashtray first so that Johnnie would understand why he was being punished. According to the available research on punishment effectiveness, which procedure should be most effective at preventing Johnnie from turning over ashtrays in the future?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The strategy used by the mother (giving Johnnie's hand a mild slap and saying "no, no") is more effective than the strategy advocated by the father (allowing Johnnie to dump the ashtray first) because immediate consequences are more effective at changing behavior than delayed consequences. Additionally, physical punishment can have negative long-term effects and is not recommended as a primary form of discipline.

Johnnie, a 2-Year-Old, Is About to Empty a Full Ashtray