The process of how parents and others encourage some behaviour and discourage other behaviour is called?

• A. Socialisation
• B. Manipulation
• C. Canalisation
• D. Inadequate socialisation

Answer: (B)

The idea being tested is how adults can actively shape a child’s actions by guiding what to do and what not to do. This shaping happens through influences like praise, rewards, punishments, or other strategies to encourage certain behaviours and discourage others. That targeted, intentional steering of conduct is what we call manipulation. It focuses on the techniques used by parents and others to produce specific behavioural outcomes, rather than the broad process of learning norms and values overall.

While socialisation describes the overall process of learning culture and acceptable behaviour, and canalisation refers to guiding interests or activities in specific directions, the scenario described—directly encouraging some behaviours and discouraging others through influence—best fits manipulation. Inadequate socialisation would imply a failure to socialise at all, which isn’t what this question is about.