Stress And Anxiety Impede Learning

Seems obvious, doesn’t it? Yet people inflict stress and anxiety every day under the guise of “teaching”.

Created by author (with apologies) — Saw movies created by James Wan and Leigh Whannell

Trigger warning

This article discusses the use of electric shock on human beings. No graphic details are described, however the content may be upsetting for some — In fact, it should be upsetting for everyone.

Let’s play a game, shall we?

Let’s pretend you’re learning French and you’re quite new to the language. Perhaps you know how to say “bonjour” and “au revoir” (hello and goodbye), and ask “où sont les toilettes?” (where is the bathroom?).

You’re a new student at a school where they only speak French and you’re trying your best to pick it up as quickly as you can.

There is a catch, however.

All students in this school wear skin-shocking devices around their calf muscles and you’re also required to wear one. It gives a “mild” shock, enough to make your muscle contract briefly, so it hurts a bit — but just for a second.

For today’s lesson, you must follow the direction you’re given within three seconds, or you will receive a brief shock at 30 mA.

Ready?

Actually, you have no choice in the matter, so it really doesn’t matter if you’re ready or not. In fact, your parents paid good money to send you to this prestigious, well-resourced private school, so you’d better make them proud.

Simply follow the instruction and avoid the shock. Begin.

Asseyez-vous.

1…

Asseyez-vous!

2…

ASSEYEZ-VOUS!

Stressed yet?

Does knowing the risk of misunderstanding or not following the directions is a painful shock help you better learn and understand a new language?

No?

No.

It makes you more stressed and anxious, causing your brain to go into fight-or-flight mode — Your brain is screaming “emergency”: you begin to sweat, you feel a bit nauseous, your body starts to tremble slightly from the adrenaline as cortisol and other stress hormones flood your body.

Your prefrontal cortex (PFC) powers down and your survival brain takes over. All you can think of is getting out of this threatening situation. You can’t possibly mentally review your rudimentary French vocabulary in search of clues as to what you’ve been asked to do.

No requests

Your memory centres are not taking requests, their current directive is to only sort through any memories that might help you avoid harm. Your PFC, which is the logical, reasoning part of your brain has essentially relinquished control to your survival instincts. You’re on your own.

“Traditional discipline can inadvertently escalate negative behaviours because survival brains cannot process rewards, consequences, or reason.” — Dr. Lori Desautels

Let’s try one more

What’s your anxious habit? Do you bite your nails? Twirl your hair? Drum your fingers on the desk?

The school has decided you’re no longer allowed to bite your nails, as it’s considered “self-harming” behaviour. Any time you’re caught biting your nails you’ll receive a “mild” shock.

You’re working on a particularly difficult math equation, and unconsciously start biting your nails as you’re concentrating, you don’t even realize you’re doing it.

Suddenly.

Zap.

A brief jolt of electricity causes your calf muscle to contract painfully for a second and then it’s gone.

You try to go back to your math work, but now you’re worried about getting another shock. You start to feel anxious and stressed… And what do you do when you’re nervous?

That’s right.

Zap.

It’s a vicious cycle: the more anxious you feel, the more you want to bite your nails in order to self-soothe. It’s a natural human response, yet the one thing that helps you comfort yourself is now being taken away — not just taken away, but punished to the point of causing you pain.

Shock is (not even) for the dogs

I spent 10 years as a dog trainer railing against the use of shock collars on dogs. Not just because they’re cruel and inhumane (which, they are), but also because they’re both painful and ineffective.

Using a painful stimuli on a non-human animal — let alone a vulnerable human being — with no positive effect, is abuse. Doing so repeatedly to disabled and autistic people is torture in every sense and meaning of the word.

This is exactly what they do at the Judge Rotenberg Centre, a place designed specifically for, in their own words:

“emotionally disturbed students with conduct, behavior, emotional, and/or psychiatric problems, as well as those with intellectual disabilities or on the autism spectrum.”

This doesn’t even account for the fact that what they’re trying to “teach” is really an attempt to force disabled and autistic people to pretend to be neurotypical and not disabled as much as they possibly can.

Those are the “skills” being taught, and the entire reason for shocking vulnerable people into submission.

JRC Sue Me Too

How would you respond if someone came up to you and asked, “can I strap this electronic skin-shocking device around your calf muscle, and shock you when you don’t do what I want?”

You’d probably tell them where to shove their lovely device and then shock them in a very sensitive area, right?

Right.

Why, then, is it okay to do this to disabled and Autistic people who may or may not be able to agree to this torture? Because we’re disabled? Because we’re considered faulty humans in need of correction?

This is how autistic and disabled people, primarily young children, are treated every single day right in your own communities, including your children’s schools. ABA, behaviourism, and similar approaches are the prevailing way most school staff gain compliance from children on a daily basis.

The only difference is it’s typically done using less undeniably abusive methods under the guise of “helping” the child fit in to neurotypical society.

If this is how the majority of society wants to treat people, and if that’s what it takes to “fit in”, then count me right the hell out.

Stress And Anxiety Impede Learning

Seems obvious, doesn’t it? Yet people inflict stress and anxiety every day under the guise of “teaching”.

Trigger warning

Let’s play a game, shall we?

Ready?

Stressed yet?

No requests

Let’s try one more

Shock is (not even) for the dogs

JRC Sue Me Too

Related Stories

The Lines Between Behaviour Therapy, Abuse, And Torture Are Very Thin And Very Blurry

The Judge Rotenberg “Educational” Centre tortures Autistic and Disabled people

My Anti-Behaviourism Series

My stories explaining the many problems with behaviourism, backed by extensive research

Punishing Unwanted Behaviour Just Makes it Worse

(Especially for neurodiverse children) — Based on neuroscience

References