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Updated: Apr 21, 2026
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Psychophysiological Assessment of the Effectiveness of Emotion Regulation Strategies in Childhood
Published on: February 11, 2017
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A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Reverse Psychology with Other Nonpharmacological Behavior Management
Sonu Acharya1, Ali A Assiry2, Brinda S Godhi3
1Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Institute of Dental Sciences, Siksha 'O' Anusandhan (Deemed to be University), Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
Summary
Reverse psychology (RP) significantly improved preschooler compliance compared to traditional methods. This playful, autonomy-supportive approach enhances cooperation and engagement in children.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Science
- Child Psychology
- Pediatric Health
Background:
- Reverse psychology (RP) leverages psychological reactance to enhance compliance in children.
- It offers a playful, autonomy-supportive alternative to directive instruction.
- RP may foster intrinsic motivation, making it a valuable nonpharmacological technique.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effectiveness of RP with tell-show-do (TSD) and positive reinforcement (PR).
- To assess the impact of RP on cooperative behavior in preschool children.
- To evaluate RP in a resource-limited context in Bhubaneswar, India.
Main Methods:
- Randomized controlled trial with 30 preschool children (aged 4-6 years).
- Groups: RP, TSD, and PR, each performing a standardized toy-sorting task.
- Primary outcome: task compliance; secondary outcomes: completion time, motivation, parental perception.
Main Results:
- RP group showed significantly higher compliance (85.2%) than TSD (70.3%) and PR (65.8%).
- RP participants completed the task faster (180s) and reported higher enjoyment (80%).
- No adverse events or dropouts were observed.
Conclusions:
- Reverse psychology significantly enhances compliance and engagement in preschoolers.
- RP is a simple, low-cost, culturally adaptable strategy for pediatric behavior management.
- Its effectiveness supports its use in early childhood education, especially in resource-limited settings.
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