Psychological effects of rewards and punishments to influence behavior Knowing how to employ different methods to reinforce, encourage or shun certain behavior can go a long way in modifying one’s character. Understanding the psychology on how rewards and punishments work to influence behavior helps one choose effective methods to get desired results. Rewards and reinforcement increase the likelihood of a behavior occurring while punishments reduce the chances of behavior happening again. There are two types of reinforcement, positive and negative reinforcement. Stimuli are part of reinforcements. When the consequence of certain behavior is considered pleasing and desirable it increases the chances of the behavior recurring. That is a
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If a child is only allowed to watch television after finishing meals, he will ensure that all meals are taken on time to enable him watch his favorite program. Punishment on the other hand is applied to do away with certain behavior not encourage it. Thorndike came up with the law of effect which argues that the frequency of an action to take place is dependent on the consequences, Nevid (2012). Skinner added to this theory by secluding animals and exposing them to repeated responses to see their reactions. He further adds to this by saying that when reinforcement is positive, it works better than punishment in an effort to shape behavior. Rewards have both positive and negative outcomes. They lead to motivation. Companies and schools mostly offer rewards in form of presents to those who show outstanding performance. This recognition ensures good performance in the future as other people will work hard to attain a level of performance deserving a reward. Parents also use this technique when impressed by certain behavior in their children. They encourage them to behave in the same way more often. If reinforcement is strong, stability of behavior is …show more content…
When punishment is not monitored, it may become abuse. In young kids this can instill fear in them and negatively affect growth and development. Offenders can avoid the behavior leading to punishment when under supervision but do it when there is no surveillance. Effectiveness of a reward and punishment reduces with time due to various factors, Sanghor. One factor is satisfaction. When someone already has the reinforcement offered in plenty, they will not be inclined to certain behavior. Immediate consequences are also more preferred to delayed consequences. If someone is to be given a reward in a short timeframe, he will work harder than if the reward is to be presented in a longer span of
If a child is only allowed to watch television after finishing meals, he will ensure that all meals are taken on time to enable him watch his favorite program. Punishment on the other hand is applied to do away with certain behavior not encourage it. Thorndike came up with the law of effect which argues that the frequency of an action to take place is dependent on the consequences, Nevid (2012). Skinner added to this theory by secluding animals and exposing them to repeated responses to see their reactions. He further adds to this by saying that when reinforcement is positive, it works better than punishment in an effort to shape behavior. Rewards have both positive and negative outcomes. They lead to motivation. Companies and schools mostly offer rewards in form of presents to those who show outstanding performance. This recognition ensures good performance in the future as other people will work hard to attain a level of performance deserving a reward. Parents also use this technique when impressed by certain behavior in their children. They encourage them to behave in the same way more often. If reinforcement is strong, stability of behavior is …show more content…
When punishment is not monitored, it may become abuse. In young kids this can instill fear in them and negatively affect growth and development. Offenders can avoid the behavior leading to punishment when under supervision but do it when there is no surveillance. Effectiveness of a reward and punishment reduces with time due to various factors, Sanghor. One factor is satisfaction. When someone already has the reinforcement offered in plenty, they will not be inclined to certain behavior. Immediate consequences are also more preferred to delayed consequences. If someone is to be given a reward in a short timeframe, he will work harder than if the reward is to be presented in a longer span of