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f you were to ask a stranger whether they thought rewards had a positive impact on a person's performance, what would you say? My initial reaction was that rewards may be positive, and create incentive. 'Punished by Rewards' is an analysis of the paradoxical effects of rewards. Alfie Kohn outlines five reasons why rewards fail; 1)rewards punish 2)rewards rupture relationships 3)rewards ignore reason 4)rewards discourage risk taking 5)rewards cut the interest rate.
A reward is defined as a thing given in recognition of service, effort, or achievement. While punishment is defined as the infliction or imposition of a penalty as retribution for an offense. Using rewards or punishments to condition a certain behavior may appear to be beneficial, however when they are used to elicit a certain behavior they can have negative effects. Over extended periods of time, the amount of reward, or severity of punishment will have to increase in oder to yield the initial results. This practice is known as behaviorism. Kohn discusses how behaviorism is used, whether it be the workplace or an educational setting, and the negativity associated with it. I agree with Kohn's position on rewards and punishments in association with behaviorism, although my thoughts pondered the possibility of using rewards outside of behaviorism, and whether or not rewards are intrinsically associated to behaviorism conditioning. The belief that human behavior can be explained in terms of conditioning, without appeal to thoughts or feelings, is known as behaviorism.
My conclusion from this idea is that inevitably, upon receiving a reward, it is associated to a certain type of behavior, and the thought or possibility of receiving another reward, remains present, even if the thought is merely subconscious and not actively being thought about. After performing a concert, if someone, regardless of whom, gave you flowers for a great performance, it would lead to disappointment if flowers are not received after the next performance.
Kohn continues to discuss how rewards rupture relationships. He explains how rewards may encourage individual thought, but hinder a sense of community by creating jealousy and competition. He also mentions that learning collaboratively has been proven to be more effective, but is especially inhibited in a classroom setting where students compete amongst themselves for a reward. I agree with his thoughts but wonder whether learning individually or in a group is relative to the learning style of certain individuals.
The third reason why Kohn believes rewards fail is because behaviorist conditioning ignores the concept of individualism. Behaviors are simply dealt with rather than understood. I completely agree with the author on this idea. In an academic or work setting, individuals are often told to leave there problems outside the threshold of academia/work. This is a logical idea although often times a person may not be aware of their behavior, not understanding, or misinterpreting their own actions as an effect from a different underlying issue.
The incentive of rewards discourages risk taking and creativity. The behavior maze is an excellent comparison for behavioral conditioning, having the end reward as the only concept of motivation will not stimulate creative thought, especially when routing and repetition is encouraged through conditioning. In the 1980's two researchers gathered empirical evidence that if it were possible to obtain the reward without completing the task, it would be abandoned in a minute. If a person knows that their level of creativity is directly related to a reward, it diminishes the purpose of creativity.
An underlying thought throughout these last four examples has been the interest rate in the task being done for a reward. A reward or punishment is an extrinsic motivator, allowing thought outside of the task itself, and solely on the rewards that will be received upon completion. On the opposites side, individuals who are intrinsically motivated find joy in what is being done for their own sake. Rewards, however, have the potential to undermine intrinsic motivation. Kohn says that no artificial incentive can match the power of intrinsic motivation. I completely agree with this final reason why rewards fail.
Overall I do agree with everything the author discusses and am curious how learning styles and personality traits are relevant to behaviorism. Ultimately, rewardss change the way people feel about what they do.
A reward is defined as a thing given in recognition of service, effort, or achievement. While punishment is defined as the infliction or imposition of a penalty as retribution for an offense. Using rewards or punishments to condition a certain behavior may appear to be beneficial, however when they are used to elicit a certain behavior they can have negative effects. Over extended periods of time, the amount of reward, or severity of punishment will have to increase in oder to yield the initial results. This practice is known as behaviorism. Kohn discusses how behaviorism is used, whether it be the workplace or an educational setting, and the negativity associated with it. I agree with Kohn's position on rewards and punishments in association with behaviorism, although my thoughts pondered the possibility of using rewards outside of behaviorism, and whether or not rewards are intrinsically associated to behaviorism conditioning. The belief that human behavior can be explained in terms of conditioning, without appeal to thoughts or feelings, is known as behaviorism.
My conclusion from this idea is that inevitably, upon receiving a reward, it is associated to a certain type of behavior, and the thought or possibility of receiving another reward, remains present, even if the thought is merely subconscious and not actively being thought about. After performing a concert, if someone, regardless of whom, gave you flowers for a great performance, it would lead to disappointment if flowers are not received after the next performance.
Kohn continues to discuss how rewards rupture relationships. He explains how rewards may encourage individual thought, but hinder a sense of community by creating jealousy and competition. He also mentions that learning collaboratively has been proven to be more effective, but is especially inhibited in a classroom setting where students compete amongst themselves for a reward. I agree with his thoughts but wonder whether learning individually or in a group is relative to the learning style of certain individuals.
The third reason why Kohn believes rewards fail is because behaviorist conditioning ignores the concept of individualism. Behaviors are simply dealt with rather than understood. I completely agree with the author on this idea. In an academic or work setting, individuals are often told to leave there problems outside the threshold of academia/work. This is a logical idea although often times a person may not be aware of their behavior, not understanding, or misinterpreting their own actions as an effect from a different underlying issue.
The incentive of rewards discourages risk taking and creativity. The behavior maze is an excellent comparison for behavioral conditioning, having the end reward as the only concept of motivation will not stimulate creative thought, especially when routing and repetition is encouraged through conditioning. In the 1980's two researchers gathered empirical evidence that if it were possible to obtain the reward without completing the task, it would be abandoned in a minute. If a person knows that their level of creativity is directly related to a reward, it diminishes the purpose of creativity.
An underlying thought throughout these last four examples has been the interest rate in the task being done for a reward. A reward or punishment is an extrinsic motivator, allowing thought outside of the task itself, and solely on the rewards that will be received upon completion. On the opposites side, individuals who are intrinsically motivated find joy in what is being done for their own sake. Rewards, however, have the potential to undermine intrinsic motivation. Kohn says that no artificial incentive can match the power of intrinsic motivation. I completely agree with this final reason why rewards fail.
Overall I do agree with everything the author discusses and am curious how learning styles and personality traits are relevant to behaviorism. Ultimately, rewardss change the way people feel about what they do.
