April 2, 2023

Ep. 23: Punishment vs Consequence. What they are, what they aren't, and why the differences matter.

Show Notes

Punishment and consequence are often used synonymously in our schools and homes, but they shouldn't be, largely because the key distinction between the two (me-focused vs you-focused) makes a world of difference in the short and long term. For the child and the adult.

In this episode, Brian and Kasey draw a line of distinction between punishments and consequences, wrestle with why that distinction is important for implementing systemic change, and argue over spankings . . . are they a punishment or a consequence?

Quotes Referenced:

"If you want to punish students, you have lost your professional soul" - Dr. Anthony Muhammad

"People like certainty more than hope" - Josie Duffy Rice

"A person who has been punished is not less inclined to behave in a certain way. At best, he or she learns how to avoid punishment." - B.F. Skinner

Why do we shout in anger? To cover the distance our hearts are experiencing.

How to Provide Appropriate Consequences:

1. Be Emotion-less in our responses

2. Empower More the people we are engaging with

3. Be Time-less in our timeline for change

Referenced Research on Punishment/Spanking:

I say dog, you say chicken? New study explores why we disagree so often

Spanking and Child Outcomes: Old Controversies and New Meta-Analyses
National Institute of Justice, "Student Suspensions Have Negative Consequences, According to NYC Study,"