Social Discipline Window

Social Discipline Window:

The social discipline window (Figure 1) is a concept with broad application in many settings. It describes four basic approaches to maintaining social norms and behavioral boundaries. The four are represented as different combinations of high or low control and high or low support. The restorative domain combines both high control and high support and is characterized by doing things with people, rather than to them or for them. The social discipline window also defines restorative practices as a leadership model for parents in families, teachers in classrooms, administrators and managers in organizations, police and social workers in communities and judges and officials in government. The fundamental unifying hypothesis of restorative practices is that “human beings are happier, more cooperative and productive, and more likely to make positive changes in their behavior when those in positions of authority do things with them, rather than to them or for them.” This hypothesis maintains that the punitive and authoritarian to mode and the permissive and paternalistic for mode are not as effective as the restorative, participatory, engaging with mode (Wachtel, 2005). The social discipline window, whose dynamics of low versus high support and control were originally modelled by the work of University of Illinois corrections researcher Daniel Glaser, reflects the seminal thinking of renowned Australian criminologist John Braithwaite, who has asserted that reliance on punishment as a social regulator is problematic because it shames and stigmatizes wrongdoers, pushes them into a negative societal subculture and fails to change their behavior (Glaser, 1964; Braithwaite, 1989). The restorative approach, on the other hand, reintegrates wrongdoers back into their community and reduces the likelihood that they will reoffend.

https://www.iirp.edu/restorative-practices/what-is-restorative-practices

TO / PUNITIVE

• Rules created by parents
• Consistency.
• Clear expectations.
• Desired behavior is encouraged using extrinsic rewards such as gifts, money, special privileges.
• Undesirable behavior is discouraged using fear of punishment such as physical pain, isolation, loss of resources (no dinner, no allowance) and loss of privilege.
• Immediate and clear response to undesirable behavior with no discussion and no exceptions.
• Response to undesirable behavior is punishment as outlined above.
• Likely to promote: Compliance, Cooperation, Submission, Rebellion, Subversion, Bullying, Acquiescence, Reluctance, Fear, Anger, Resentment, Defensiveness, Frustration, Hopelessness, Apathy, Denial of Responsibility, Guilt/Shame/Embarrassment followed by disconnection, hopelessness. anger, denial, dis-empowerment.

WITH / RESTORATIVE

• Norms & Guidelines created collaboratively (age appropriate).
• Consistency.
• Clear Expectations.
• Desired behavior is encouraged using intrinsic rewards such compassionate communication, pride, appreciation, connection, & acknowledgement.
• Undesirable behavior is discouraged using affective statements and the knowledge of real world consequences to actions.
• Immediate and clear response to undesirable behavior.
• Undesirable behavior is responded to with affective statements and questions. The child is asked to work with those harmed to repair the harm.
• Likely to promote: Compliance, Cooperation, Collaboration, Self-motivated action, Accountability, Responsibility, Creativity, Trust, intial Shame/Embarrassment/Guilt followed by Empowerment, Joy, Inspiration, Engagement, Curiosity, Pride, Trust, Creativity, Autonomy, Connnection

FOR / PERMISSIVE

• No rules or constantly changing rules.
• Children seem to be in charge.
• No consistency.
• Little to no expectations and/or little to no follow through on expectations. When expectations are not met parents pick take responsibility for consequences.
• Parents lives and schedules revolve around children. Parents create everything and fix everything.
• Desired behavior is encouraged using rewards and unempowered requests.
• Undesirable behavior is discouraged threats with no follow-through or unempowered requests.
• Likely to promote Laissez-Fair, Lack of Motivation, Distrust, Confusion, Complacency, Shame, Denial of Responsibility, Bullying, Apathy, Fear, Hopelessness, Disconnection.

NOT / NEGLECT

• Absent parent; physically, mentally and/or emotionally.
• No rules, norms or guidelines
• No expectations
• No consequences
• Likely to promote Fear, Loneliness, Isolation, Hopelessness, Distrust, Disengagement.

IIRP. (2015-2017). Retrieved from http://www.iirp.edu/what-we-do/what-is-restorative-practices/defining-restorative/13-social-discipline-window