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'Honey, you just ran a red light!'

DEFINITION: v. To unintentionally encourage bad behavior by responding to it in a manner that incites even worse behavior. n. A response designed to stop bad behavior, which paradoxically produces more of it.

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Verboticisms

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Negatentional

mrskellyscl

Created by: mrskellyscl

Pronunciation: neg-a-ten-shen-al

Sentence: As a teacher, Mary knew that negatentional responses were equal to posintentional ones to the kids who acted up to get her attention, although the results were disastrous for her classroom management. She soon realized that by nagging Kevin the same result would happen, Kevin would do the opposite of what she wanted to get a response from her. She decided to ignore the inappropriate behavior and reward him for proper behavior, just as she would her kindergarten children, in order for him to get posattention from her.

Etymology: negative: unfavorable or disconfirming + intentional: done deliberately + attention: notice or recognition. Teachers and trainers understand that to some children or animals negative attention is just as good as positive attention because it gives them the reward of recognition and response.

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COMMENTS:

Do I not lie it? Negatory! Good word. - Nosila, 2009-06-30: 17:31:00

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Crazydriver

Created by: Andrew98

Pronunciation:

Sentence:

Etymology:

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Fortidefy

artr

Created by: artr

Pronunciation: fôrtədifī

Sentence: Joanne knows all about the concept of reverse psychology. It is easy for her to get her children and husband to do what she wants by getting them to fortidefy her nagging.

Etymology: fortify (strengthen or invigorate) + defy (openly resist or refuse to obey)

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Sincourage

Created by: Nosila

Pronunciation: sin koor aj

Sentence: When Stan got behind the wheel, he took driving very personally and reacted badly to all bad situations. His wife, Rosa, would inadvertantly sincourage his actions by stoking his fuels of outrage.

Etymology: Sin (commit a fault) & Encourage (promote;support)

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Miscourage

Created by: jrogan

Pronunciation: mis-cur-rage

Sentence: Every time Sally miscouraged her boyfriend go slower, he went faster. It didn't matter whether they were on the highway, or in the bedroom.

Etymology: miss + courage as opposed to discourage

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Scaradigm

Created by: mweinmann

Pronunciation: skair - a - dime

Sentence: There was a scaradigm shift in Tony's behavior after Lisa tried to soothe him during the drive through the Catskills. The road was narrow and slippery and an antelope strolled out and started to play around in the headlights.

Etymology: scare (A general state of alarm), paradigm (A set of assumptions, concepts, values, and practices that constitutes a way of viewing reality)

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Reitirate

Created by: Mustang

Pronunciation: re-IT-eye-rayt

Sentence: While she was well intentioned Muriel would invariably overdo her prodding to get Stan to do things her way and in the end would almost always reitirate, harping on a topic until Stan would just blow his cork.

Etymology: Blend of reiterate and irate.

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Wrecktify

Created by: galwaywegian

Pronunciation: rek tifff eye

Sentence: Herhigh pitched complaints only managed to wrectify the situation, as she put her foot on the imaginery brake.

Etymology: rectify wreck.

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COMMENTS:

wreckscellent word! - Nosila, 2008-05-20: 22:37:00

Nice word. - OZZIEBOB, 2008-05-22: 01:21:00

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Modifail

Created by: Stevenson0

Pronunciation: mod/i/fail

Sentence: As a teacher, I sometimes modifail when a student over reacts in a negative way to an attempted behaviour modifcation causing even further trouble in class.

Etymology: modify + fail

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Misscipline

Created by: bookowl

Pronunciation: miss/i/plin

Sentence: Missipline is the result of misplaced discipline.

Etymology: discipline + miss

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Comments:

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2008-05-20: 00:00:01
Today's definition is inspired by Amy Sutherland's observation that if we are going to use "progressive animal training techniques" on humans, that we simply need to reward behavior we want and ignore behavior we don't. Of course this is easier said than done, and requires a great deal of self-awareness and self-discipline. In fact, Amy calls it the "Zen of Animal Training". See: "What Shamu Taught me About Life, Love and Marriage". Thanks Amy! ~ James

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2009-06-30: 00:00:01
Today's definition is inspired by Amy Sutherland's observation that if we are going to use "progressive animal training techniques" on humans, that we simply need to reward behavior we want and ignore behavior we don't. Of course this is easier said than done, and requires a great deal of self-awareness and self-discipline. In fact, Amy calls it the "Zen of Animal Training". See: "What Shamu Taught me About Life, Love and Marriage". Thanks Amy! ~ James

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2010-07-20: 00:00:00
Today's definition was suggested by amysutherland. Thank you amysutherland. ~ James

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