Cues to Positive and Negative Behavior

Abstract

human relations usually deal in generalities. The specific ways in which concepts like positive and negative behavior, acceptance, and rejection may be applied in the classroom, or elsewhere, are neglected. Unfortunately this difficulty is not confined to the theoretical but spreads everywhere to the practical; for, though teachers wish to develop positive behavior, they are not familiar with sufficient specific techniques by means of which such improvement can be pursued. Moreover, since self-improvement -the source and the end result of positive behavior-is a lifelong problem, complex and deeply puzzling at times, many persons are led to adopt one form or another of resignation in the face of it. Some find self-improvement too much for analysis and resign themselves to coasting along, at times managing very well and at other times not so well, and frequently feeling a frustration which they try to forget lest it disturb their peace of mind or influence them adversely on future occasions. Others, with a sigh, put it this way: Well, just try to be my natural self, and, if people don't like it, I'm sorry. Still others express their resignation as follows: I try to have the right attitude toward people, and, if feel kindly toward them, I'm pretty sure to do the right thing when I'm with them. Others, of course, adopt an attitude of hostility, resenting the fact that, as they say, everybody has to be handled with kid gloves. The last group will not concern us, for teachers belong, preponderantly, to the other three groups. They are definitely interested in self-improvement because they know full well how fundamentally important their own personal adjustment is in daily classroom activities. The very resignation to which they have come is but an evidence that they have given the problem serious thought and have made an effort to simplify the struggle. Actually, however, the problem of improving one's personal and social relationships cannot be solved except by attacking it and making this attack