It really irks me when the media use the word discipline in place of the word punishment as if they were the same thing. I think the distinction between the two is disappearing in our society and is lost on many. So I ask, what is the difference between punishment and discipline?

My wife and I struggle with this all the time. When I referenced myself as a strict disciplinarian, I meant that I believe in enforcing and inculcating within my kids strong sense of self control and responsibility for one's actions, as well as an awareness of the consequences therein.

Punishment should only be meted out as a response to the breakdown of self-discipline.

I couldn't agree more. I've found that these qualities develop as a natual result of being treated with respect.

Setting boundaries and providing choices with natural consequences is discipline. Punishment will only create resentment and shift blame towards the punisher -- the punished will not accept responsibility.

The difference in my mind is internal vs. external.

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http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b1...oD/bioclip.jpg

I'd call punishment a subset of discipline.

Props to you

Thats a lot like how I was raised. Punishment was worse if you lied than if you fessed up to what you did and accepted responsibility.

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"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

I'll take a shot at it.

Discipline is the ability to maintain focused on a task. Punishment is retribution for bad behavior.

How's that?

Kinda where I was going.

Discipline is adherence to a set of guidelines...punishment is the negative consequence of straying from those same guidelines.

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See, I'd say that discipline can be divided into two kinds: discipline imposed by self, which I think is what you've described, and which also includes things like guilt and conscience; and discipline imposed externally. Externally-imposed discipline would include, but not be limited to, punishment.

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Is that a prison picture? My first take on 'the position' is probably not what was intended.

Jesus webwench, were things ever tough at your house.

Dirty-minded Kitty!

Yeah, I think its used in both senses by most people. I don't use it in that sense with my kids. I tell them straight-up that I cannot discipline them, but I sure as heck can punish them. From punishment it is my intention that they learn discipline.

However, if my concept were complete, then there would be no need for the term, self-discipline. That term more accurately describes my usage leaving "discipline" covering the command of choice by outside agency.

Like, "military discipline" or "religious discipline" or "leather discipline", I suppose.

My take on this is that disciplines are more along the lines of lifestyle things like:

You finish your homework before you go out to play.

Supper is not over until the kitchen is clean.

A place for everything and everything in its place.

Maybe it is just things that you do without questioning them. Later in life I think it really affects the way people deal with frustation, conflict and stress.

Punishment is when you screw-up and must pay the price.

I learned discipline when I got to college and found that I couldn't coast with easy A's anymore. Competing with the other students who had better study habits required me to change my ways. Competing with the students who cheated their asses-off was another situation.

When I asked my own parents this question I was not very happy with their answers.