Punished by Rewards

1. Rewards undermine intrinsic motivation and genuine interest

"Do this and you'll get that" automatically devalues the "this."

Rewards kill motivation. When people are offered rewards for doing something, their interest in the activity itself tends to decrease. This effect has been consistently demonstrated in numerous studies across various settings, from schools to workplaces. The promise of a reward shifts focus from the intrinsic value of the task to the external incentive, ultimately reducing enjoyment and quality of performance.

Short-term compliance, long-term damage. While rewards may produce immediate results, they often lead to:

• Decreased creativity and risk-taking
• Reduced interest in challenging tasks
• A preference for the easiest path to obtain the reward
• Diminished long-term engagement with the activity

The use of rewards creates a dependency cycle, where more rewards are needed to maintain behavior, further eroding intrinsic motivation. This effect is particularly harmful in education, where the goal should be to foster a love of learning rather than a pursuit of external validation.

2. Punishment is ineffective and harmful in the long run

"Punishment doesn't even teach what not to do, much less the reason not to do it: what it really teaches is the desire to avoid punishment."

Punishment breeds resentment. While punishment may seem to produce immediate compliance, it fails to address the underlying causes of behavior and often leads to negative outcomes. Punitive measures:

• Create fear and anxiety
• Damage relationships between the punisher and the punished
• Teach avoidance rather than understanding
• Model aggressive behavior

Alternatives to punishment. Instead of resorting to punitive measures, adults should focus on:

• Understanding the reasons behind problematic behavior
• Collaboratively problem-solving with children
• Teaching skills and values that promote positive behavior
• Creating environments that support good choices

By moving away from punishment and towards a more supportive, problem-solving approach, we can help children develop intrinsic motivation to behave responsibly and ethically.

3. Praise can be manipulative and counterproductive

"Praise, like all rewards, is conditional."

The dark side of praise. While praise is often seen as universally positive, it can have detrimental effects similar to other forms of reward. Praise can:

• Create dependence on external validation
• Reduce intrinsic motivation
• Feel manipulative or controlling to the recipient
• Undermine self-assessment and autonomy

Effective feedback. Instead of reflexively praising, adults should:

• Offer specific, informational feedback about the task or behavior
• Encourage self-evaluation and reflection
• Focus on effort and process rather than innate abilities
• Avoid comparisons to others

By shifting from praise to more thoughtful, informative feedback, we can support genuine growth and maintain intrinsic motivation without the negative effects of conditional approval.

4. Grades and standardized tests hinder true learning

"Grades dilute the pleasure that a student experiences on successfully completing a task."

The problem with grades. Traditional grading systems and standardized tests often:

• Shift focus from learning to performance
• Encourage competition rather than collaboration
• Promote a fear of failure that inhibits risk-taking and creativity
• Provide limited, often misleading information about student learning

Alternatives to traditional assessment. To promote genuine learning:

• Use descriptive feedback instead of letter grades
• Implement portfolio-based assessments
• Encourage self-assessment and peer feedback
• Focus on individual progress rather than comparison to others

By moving away from grades and standardized tests, we can create educational environments that foster intrinsic motivation, deep understanding, and a love of learning that extends beyond the classroom.

5. Workplace incentives fail to improve performance

"Pay is not a motivator."

The myth of pay-for-performance. Despite widespread use, financial incentives and merit-based pay systems often fail to improve workplace performance. Research shows that:

• Extrinsic rewards can decrease intrinsic motivation
• Performance-based pay can lead to short-term thinking and unethical behavior
• Incentive systems often create competition that undermines teamwork

Effective workplace motivation. Instead of relying on extrinsic rewards, organizations should focus on:

• Creating meaningful, engaging work
• Fostering autonomy and mastery
• Promoting a sense of purpose and connection to the organization's mission
• Providing fair, livable wages as a foundation rather than a motivator

By shifting focus from external incentives to intrinsic motivators, companies can create more satisfying, productive work environments that benefit both employees and the organization as a whole.

6. Collaboration and autonomy foster better outcomes

"All of us are smarter than any of us."

The power of collaboration. Working together, rather than competing, leads to:

• Higher quality outcomes
• Increased creativity and innovation
• Better problem-solving
• Improved social skills and empathy

Balancing collaboration and autonomy. While collaboration is crucial, individual autonomy is equally important. Effective environments:

• Allow individuals to make meaningful choices
• Provide opportunities for both group and individual work
• Encourage diverse perspectives and ideas
• Support self-directed learning and exploration

By fostering both collaboration and autonomy, we create settings that maximize individual potential while harnessing the power of collective intelligence and creativity.

7. Problem-solving approach trumps behavioral control

"Something has gone wrong; what can we do about it?"

Moving beyond control. Traditional approaches to discipline often rely on controlling behavior through rewards and punishments. A problem-solving approach instead:

• Seeks to understand the underlying causes of behavior
• Involves children in finding solutions
• Teaches valuable skills for future situations
• Strengthens relationships and builds trust

Implementing a problem-solving approach:

1. Identify the problem collaboratively
2. Brainstorm potential solutions together
3. Choose a solution and create a plan
4. Implement the plan and evaluate its effectiveness
5. Adjust as needed and celebrate successes

This approach not only addresses immediate issues but also helps develop critical thinking, empathy, and responsibility in the long term.

8. Empathy and perspective-taking are crucial for moral development

"Perspective taking helps us at once to see others as fundamentally similar to ourselves despite superficial differences (in that we share a common humanity) and as importantly different from ourselves despite apparent similarities."

Cultivating empathy. Developing the ability to understand and share the feelings of others is essential for moral growth. To foster empathy:

• Model empathetic behavior
• Discuss emotions and perspectives in various situations
• Encourage children to consider how their actions affect others
• Expose children to diverse experiences and viewpoints

Teaching perspective-taking. Specific strategies include:

• Role-playing exercises
• Analyzing literature from multiple character viewpoints
• Discussing current events from various perspectives
• Encouraging children to imagine themselves in others' situations

By prioritizing empathy and perspective-taking, we help children develop a strong moral foundation and the ability to navigate complex social situations ethically.

9. Creating caring communities promotes prosocial values

"If children are to internalize prosocial values, they must be helped to become part of a caring community."

Building community in schools. Effective strategies include:

• Regular class meetings for decision-making and problem-solving
• Cross-age buddy systems and mentoring programs
• Collaborative projects that benefit the whole school or local community
• Celebrations of collective achievements and shared experiences

Extending community beyond school. To reinforce prosocial values:

• Involve families and community members in school activities
• Encourage student participation in community service
• Create opportunities for students to apply their skills to real-world problems
• Foster connections between school learning and community needs

By embedding children in caring communities, we provide living examples of prosocial values and create opportunities for meaningful participation and contribution.

10. Authentic choices empower and motivate individuals

"The more a child feels part of the process, the more his point of view is solicited and taken seriously, the fewer problems there will be to deal with."

The importance of choice. Providing genuine opportunities for decision-making:

• Increases intrinsic motivation
• Develops a sense of responsibility and ownership
• Improves engagement and performance
• Builds self-confidence and autonomy

Implementing meaningful choice:

• Involve children in setting rules and consequences
• Offer options within structured activities
• Allow for self-directed learning time
• Encourage input on curriculum and assessment methods
• Provide opportunities to choose how to demonstrate knowledge

By consistently offering authentic choices, we empower individuals to take responsibility for their learning and behavior, fostering intrinsic motivation and a sense of personal agency.

Last updated: January 24, 2025