Behaviourism Can’t Teach Emotion Regulation Skills

It often results in suppression of emotions

May 12, 2025

∙ Paid

Behaviourism does not and cannot teach emotional regulation skills.

In fact, it usually has the opposite effect of suppressing people’s self-regulation behaviours through punishment (and yes, negative punishment, such as withholding rewards, is still a form of punishment).

“Positive” + punishment (P+) is the addition of something unpleasant (i.e. detention); “Negative” — punishment (P-) is the removal of something desired (i.e. not getting a token); “Positive” + reinforcement (R+) is the addition of something pleasant (i.e. rewards); “Negative” — reinforcement (R-) is the removal of something unpleasant (i.e. avoiding detention) — Created by author

Behaviourism, by definition, does not acknowledge, or even consider, internal experiences. It focuses exclusively on observable behaviour.

Rather than providing children with strategies and tools for emotional regulation, their behaviour is modified using glorified dog training, in which they are forced to behave in ways that make the (usually neurotypical) adults around them more comfortable.

Behaviourism uses rewards and punishment to manipulate people (usually vulnerable children) and modify (manipulate) their behaviour. It also makes conclusions about people’s internal experiences based solely on their external behaviour. It conflates (confuses) compliance with a “calm” (regulated) state. These are not the same thing.

Keep reading with a 7-day free trial

Subscribe to Neurodiversity MB to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.