How Teens Respond to Punishment

Disciplining a teenager can be a delicate operation for parents. While teenagers are working to gain independence and adult-status, they still need specific boundaries to help them learn self-discipline and self-control, advises educator Catherine H. Knott, with the Aspen Education website. By using discipline carefully, you can avoid a negative teen response to punishment.

  1. Discipline Vs. Punishment

    • The difference between effective discipline and ineffective punishment lies in the administration, according to Virginia Cooperative Extension. Discipline involves teaching and guiding a teenager and helping to support the teen as she grows in maturity toward adulthood. Punishment involves administering unpleasant consequences with the sole purpose being to stop a teenager from repeating unwanted or dangerous behavior.

    Harsh Punishments

    • While some punishments can be effective consequences as a part of discipline, harsh punishment generally has a negative effect on teenagers, according to social worker Carole Banks, with the Empowering Parents website. Harsh punishments can create a power struggle between parents and teenagers. Harsh punishments may also incite anger in a teenager, which often turns to bitterness and resentment over time. This resentment may lead to further behavioral problems, including acting out and even negative risk-taking behaviors.

    Rules and Consequences

    • Effective boundaries with a teenager involve concrete house rules for conduct and connected consequences for breaking the rules, advises the Massachusetts Children̵7;s Trust Fund website. Discuss the rules clearly so your teen understands your expectations. Once you place the rules in force, each connected consequence can help your teenager make positive choices. Your teenager also learns to use self-discipline to conduct herself within the boundaries, according to your expectations.

    Effective Consequences

    • Effective consequences for teenagers need to fit the infraction, according to the Parenting.org, a program of the at-risk youth nonprofit Boys Town. When the consequence makes logical sense and follows a broken rule swiftly, the teenager understands the lesson and usually accepts the consequence more readily. For example, a broken curfew might mean an earlier curfew for a night or two.

    Consistency

    • A parent̵7;s consistency in enforcing rules and consequences helps a teenager develop the ability to manage behaviors and emotions. Your consistency will develop a trusting and secure relationship between you and your teenager, according to the University of Alabama Parenting Assistance Line. This trust helps your child accept the consequences from you, without feeling that punishments are unfair or unexpected. When the teenager accepts consequences, it helps keep the adolescent accountable and instills responsibility for behaviors and actions.

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