TRAPS FENCES Traps behaviors with short term gain
TRAPS & FENCES • Traps -- behaviors with short term gain, long term pain – smoking, eating sweets, procrastination • Fences -- behaviors with short term lack of consequence or even mildly aversive consequence – flossing, getting right on the job, eating broccoli
PUNISHMENT • Defined -- the application of aversive or unpleasant consequences to a behavior. A punishment reduces the likelihood of a behavior occurring. • Like a negative reinforcer, it is unpleasant but a negative reinforcer strengthens and sustains behaviors. Punishment weakens and eliminates behaviors.
PROBLEMS IN THE PROCESS • Is it truly punishment? • Is the timing delayed? • Is the punishment strong enough
A CASE AGAINST PUNISHMENT • • It requires monitoring It is wasteful of supervisor’s time It only suppresses behavior It has undesirable side effects – fear, hostility, revenge • Nonetheless it is essential
EFFECTIVE PUNISHMENT • • Apply before the behavior takes root Make it quick and strong enough Punish the act, not the person It should be consistent across time and people • It should have informational value • It is more effective in a warm and supportive relationship
OBSERVATIONAL LEARNING • Learning by watching • Distinctiveness of theory – cognitive – vicarious learning – motivation – active – efficient
VICARIOUS LEARNING • Modeling • Ability and practice • Vicarious reinforcement
MOTIVATION • Self-efficacy -- self-judgment concerning ability to perform an act. – positive enactment – modeling – coaching
SELF-CONTROL • Arrange work environment so that negative behaviors are reduced and positive ones increased. Engineer your antecedents (signals) for effective behavior • Self-reward -- use more preferred activities as a reward for accomplishing less preferred ones.
BACKWARDS & FORWARDS • Summing up -– Traps & fences – Problems in punishing – Making it more effective – Observational learning • Looking ahead – Motivation and needs that govern work behavior
- Slides: 10