What is the difference between a reward and a bribe?
Written on 19th Sep 2013 by Sylvia Lowery
Re-enforcement played a significant role in Alex’s education and training. Children with ASC (Autism Spectrum Condition) often need extra help to learn new skills. Yet it is important to make sure that a child isn’t being bribed.
What is a bribe?
A bribe is the use of a gift to get a person to do what you want. Using a bribe could lead to a child doing things you don’t want so that you will give them the sweets or money they got last time. I remember my mum offering me and my brother some money if we could find the lost shoes. My brother was only three but he managed to find the shoes and get the money. However the next day the shoes were lost again. My brother quickly found the shoes and expected his reward. My mum soon realised he had hidden the shoes so that he could get the reward.
What is a re-enforcement?
Re-enforcement is a way of recognising good behaviour or hard work and effort. We all work for re-enforcement. Your employer will pay you wages at the end of the week if you come to work and do the job you have agreed to do. A bribe is used as a negotiating tool, children learn refuse to do anything unless there is something in it for them.
How would a child be encouraged to find their shoes without using a bribe?
1. Announce everyone needs to find their shoes.
2. Give a reward sticker and praise the child who finds their shoes.
3. Pair the reward with finding the shoes rather than promise it beforehand.
4. Consistently give a sticker for finding the shoes quickly.
5. The child will begin to change the way they look after their shoes, They will start to put their shoes in a place where they can find them. They will learn that tidiness and planning brings its own reward.
Offering sweets if a child will tidy their toys is only going to make things worse in the long run.
Here I talk about how re-enforcement can help a child through anxiety.
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