Comments on: Reverse Psychology? http://www.radicalparenting.com/2008/07/08/reverse-psychology/ Parenting From The Kids Perspective Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:26:00 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Bob Collier http://www.radicalparenting.com/2008/07/08/reverse-psychology/comment-page-1/#comment-938 Bob Collier Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:14:20 +0000 http://www.onteenstoday.com/?p=864#comment-938 I'm told the reason why we often do exactly what we've been asked not to do is that our brain can't process an abstract negative like "don't". We have to imagine ourselves doing what it is we've been asked not to do before we can understand what it is we're not to do. Which, of course, can get us interested in doing it. A parent who knows this would probably get Billy to mow the lawn by describing to him all the benefits of the experience so that he imagines himself doing it and enjoying the benefits. Which are ... Hmm .... Maybe telling him not to mow the lawn just might work better in this particular case. I'm going to visit Mark's blog now - but only because I want to not because he told me not to. :-) I’m told the reason why we often do exactly what we’ve been asked not to do is that our brain can’t process an abstract negative like “don’t”. We have to imagine ourselves doing what it is we’ve been asked not to do before we can understand what it is we’re not to do. Which, of course, can get us interested in doing it.

A parent who knows this would probably get Billy to mow the lawn by describing to him all the benefits of the experience so that he imagines himself doing it and enjoying the benefits. Which are … Hmm …. Maybe telling him not to mow the lawn just might work better in this particular case.

I’m going to visit Mark’s blog now – but only because I want to not because he told me not to. :-)

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