Dude- seriously. I'm a counselor. DONT medicate the boy is what I said!! We just have to follow the medical model and get that label put on him and then he can get some help IF the mom can afford it or her health insurance will pay for it.
Conditioning has to do with rewards only. Positive conditioning is rewarding for an action done. Negative conditioning is rewarding for the cessation of a negative stimulus. Think of it like a seat belt dinger thing in a car- you are conditioned to put on your seat belt to stop the dinging. You are being negatively conditioned.
Withholding of privileges is just that-- withholding of privileges with the hope that the kid will care enough.
Don't be sorry for my upbringing- I'm not. I learned a lot and it really shaped my career and my own parenting. I have 4 healthy and happy and contributing kids- even have some grandkids.
We all get what we need- we just sometimes need help dealing with what we've been given. I hope that the boy and the mom get the help they need away from the tv camera.