Discipline may take many forms, but the goal is universal -- to modify or control behavior to produce a desired result. Discipline may describe the corrective or instructive means employed by parents to modify their child's behavior. Or, it may describe the self-originated acts an individual employs to modify or control his own behavior. Whatever the case, there are a number of universal forms of discipline a person can use to encourage movement toward desired outcomes.
Coercive
Coercive discipline involves the use of threat to gain compliance or to modify undesirable behavior. Coercive forms of discipline include physical punishments such as spanking or incarceration. It may also involve the threat of lost privileges, opportunities or status. A parent may "ground" a child, for instance, denying him the opportunity to go out with friends. A professional board or association may hold out the threat of disbarment or loss of professional license for violation of its code of ethics. Coercive discipline methods focus on threat and intimidation to produce compliance or modified behavior.
Passive
Passive forms of discipline may include ignoring undesired behavior or local separation. In such cases, an individual may not suffer any material loss. The individual may instead be ostracized from group activity or opportunities or find herself not receiving positive reinforcement for her position.
Instructive
Instructive discipline focuses on correcting or modifying behavior by providing truthful and constructive feedback or input. An employer may conduct periodic performance evaluations for his subordinates in which he provides clear observations concerning the person's work and attitude. Such discipline will provide the recipient a chance for reflection and personal evaluation that can lead to desired behavioral outcomes.
Positive Reinforcement
Positive reinforcement is a form of discipline that focuses on providing rewards as incentives to encourage desired behavior. These incentives may take the form of pay increases or bonuses, plaques, public recognition or increased privileges and opportunities. This form of discipline can often be the most effective because it draws a person out. Its effectiveness is that it works from the inside out, as opposed to coercive discipline that works from the outside in.
