Is it reinforcement or bribery?

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Is it reinforcement or bribery?

As educators and parents, we offer praise when our children cooperate and follow instructions. We might even provide reinforcements for it, such as when we ask them to do a tabletop task and once completed, the child can play with their favourite toy.

Other times, we use reinforcers to get us out of difficult situations. For example, imagine a child is in the play-school garden, refusing to go back into the class for circle time. His teacher tells him, "if you go back inside the classroom, you can have your snack now" although it is not snack time, it's circle time. Was that a reinforcer or bribery?

I understand that we might sometimes use bribery, mainly when we are under stress. I, too, have promised a goodie to my children if they stayed quiet in the supermarket :-)

But we must distinguish between when we are using reinforcement and when we are using bribery because they are two very different approaches with different long-term outcomes.

First of all, let's look at the definition of bribery.

Bribery is not planned, and we do it spontaneously. It's a reaction to problematic behaviour. For example, your child is crying in the supermarket, and you decide to buy them a lollypop. You give it to them "if you stop crying, I will give you a lollypop".
This strategy may be successful in the short term. The child stopped crying, and we could go on and finish the shopping. But what are the consequences of that bribery in the long term? What has our child learned? If I cry, mummy will get me a lolly, not a bad deal!

Now, let's look at the definition of reinforcement.

Reinforcement is planned, and it follows good behaviour. For example, if a child knows if he does some chores during the week, his mum and dad give him pocket money at the weekend. Or a child in school might have learned that when she completes her tabletop work, she gets a star and time in the play corner in the classroom.
Plus, reinforcement is delivered with praise. You are likely to say "well done" or "great job" while giving access to the reinforcer.
With praise and reinforcers, children are more likely to repeat those behaviours because of the recognition and rewards they get for them.

Using reinforcers is one of the tools we have as parents and educators to encourage certain behaviours in our children. Behaviours that will serve them well throughout their lives include engaging in tasks, learning, and being mannerly with people. Remember that it might take time for children with developmental delays to learn these, so be patient and understanding, and aim to achieve a little step at a time.

Although I use reinforcers with my children and students, I aim to use another strategy most of the time: internal reinforcement.

What does internal reinforcement mean?

An internal reinforcer is something that the child genuinely enjoys. Think of activities your child is curious about and likes doing. They do these tasks because they find them exciting and pleasurable, not because someone will reward them for doing them. The activity is self-rewarding.

Rather than focusing on "when you do this, you will get that", I ask myself these essential questions before intervention sessions I do with children:
- What is this child interested in?
- What activities does this child enjoy?
- How can I adapt activities to capture this child's interest?
- Will the child be able to complete this task successfully?

I aim to provide activities that make children feel curious and want to engage with them. This is always my first port of call.

But sometimes, for tasks that can be a bit less enjoyable for children, such as getting my kids to do their homework, I use reinforcers. They know once homework has been completed, they get to watch tv for a while.

And now, I would love to hear from you:
How do you motivate your children or students?
Do you consider internal and external motivators?

Let me know in the comments below.