1,086 — Giving Bribes to Children for Good Behavior

If you listen to this episode, you can play all the video games you want today AND get a big bag of candy!
Slow dialog: 1:37
Explanations: 4:08
Fast dialog: 17:24
Camille: No, you can’t have a new bike if you get an “A” on the test. You should study because you want to do well in school. We’ll talk about it when I get home tonight. Kids!
Aaron: What’s the matter?
Camille: My kids won’t do anything without an incentive. I know it’s my own fault for offering rewards for good behavior, but now, all they want to know is what they’ll get to do what I ask.
Aaron: Rewards are okay if you use them sparingly, aren’t they?
Camille: That’s the problem. I feel like I have to bribe them to do the simplest things. I get home from work and I’m tired and frazzled. I don’t want another power struggle so I rely on bribes. It’s backfired.
Aaron: How do you mean?
Camille: Now my kids won’t do anything without knowing what’s in it for them. And they keep upping the ante. Soon I’ll have to start forking over cash to get them to behave.
Aaron: I don’t know what to say. When I was growing up, my mother put the fear of God into us. We wouldn’t dare misbehave for fear of making her angry. We never got rewards for good behavior. It was just expected of us.
Camille: What’s your mother’s number? Is she available to babysit?
Aaron: Uh, I don’t know. I don’t think she could inspire that kind of obedience from other people’s children.
Camille: I’m desperate! At the very least, she can give me a few parenting lessons.

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse