Odd as it may sound, it would have to be “structured randomness” so to speak.
Picking a slip out of a bowl would probably work—getting a reward only when the parent is in the mood to give one would likely not. The latter is just as random from the child’s perspective, but inconsistent parenting (or animal training, or employee rewarding schemes) is known to be bad at shaping behaviour in the desired fashion.
That’s true. Arbitrary responses can lead to learned helplessness, although that’s for negative responses. I can imagine there is are more relevant psychological concepts.
Odd as it may sound, it would have to be “structured randomness” so to speak. Picking a slip out of a bowl would probably work—getting a reward only when the parent is in the mood to give one would likely not. The latter is just as random from the child’s perspective, but inconsistent parenting (or animal training, or employee rewarding schemes) is known to be bad at shaping behaviour in the desired fashion.
That’s true. Arbitrary responses can lead to learned helplessness, although that’s for negative responses. I can imagine there is are more relevant psychological concepts.