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Affection and Rejection in the context of student behaviour can be likened to the nurturing sunlight and the stifling shadow, each influencing the growth and development of a young plant.
Love is like a vitamin for students that makes them feel important and supported. When the instructors are caring and have an interest in the students, their success, progress, and happiness, it fosters inclusion and motivation. Just like light helps the plant to pass through the process of photosynthesis, affection directs the energy in a student for learning and development.
In this context, it contributes to their self-fulfilment, personal growth, and improved participation in the educational process. This environment enables the learners to grow, as a plant does well under proper sunlight, show positive attitudes in class, prepare to contribute, and take on responsibilities such as group work.
On the other hand, rejection serves as the counterpart and denies students the social affirmation that they require for growth. Thus, when students experience neglect, criticism and indifference from their educators, they often develop inadequacy and alienation. Similar to a plant that is denied access to sunlight and will grow stunted and wilted, learners who are rejected may withdraw, rebel or show a complete lack of interest in their academic work.
This negative environment hampers their growth, hence degrading their performance and worsening their behaviour. Lack of support and non-recognition may lead to students’ self-suspicion affecting their morale to perform and respond.
To conclude, affection positively influences students’ behaviour while rejection negatively affects students. Huggins compares affection to sunlight and rejection to shadow as affection increases growth, positivity, and activity, whereas rejection hinders development and results in negative behavioural changes.
Teachers, hence, bear the responsibility of cultivating proper rearing for students, which involves training them while also providing the necessary love to help them thrive in their academic endeavours as well as in other aspects of life.
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