Comparing Teachers’ and Students’ Perspectives on the Treatment of Student Misbehavior

Abstract The treatment of student misbehavior is both a major challenge for teachers and potential source students’ perceptions injustice in school. By implication, it vital to understand teachers’ vis-à-vis perceptions. One key dimension punishment behavior reflects the underlying motives goals punishment. In present research, we investigated perspectives students concerning purposes Specifically, were interested extent which show preferences either retribution (i.e., evening out harm caused), special prevention preventing recidivism offender), or general imitation others) as goals. Therefore, ( N = 260) school around age 10 238) provided with scenario depicting specific misbehavior. Participants asked indicate their endorsement three well evaluate different practices that perceived (in pretests) primarily achieve one goal but not other two. Results largely prefer prevention, whereas rather retribution. This discrepancy was particularly large participants’ evaluation practices, differences between direct relatively small. Overall, research may contribute development classroom intervention strategies reduce conflicts student–teacher-interactions.