REINFORCEMENT

  Re-enforcement 

 There are four types of re-enforcement 

*  Positive  re-enforcement

*  Negative  re-enforcement

*   Punishment

*   Extinction

 Positive and negative re-enforcement seeks to achieve a desirable behaviour by two different approaches while punishment and extinction prevents undesirable behaviour.

 

 Positive Re-enforcement 

 Positive re-enforcement is institution of reward for a particular desired behaviour. The intensity of reward must stimulate a desired behaviour. ”Shram Shri” award is re-enforcement or a reward for innovation in production. This is instituted so that individual works to achieve a high standard.

 Positive re-enforcement to be effective should have following pre-requisites 

• The reward should match the expected behaviour graph and need spectrum of awards

 • Rewards must be given on time.

 • Re-enforcement must be applicable universally without any structural variations. Disparity in rewards is counter-productive.

 Negative Re-enforcement 

• In organizations acts are committed or omitted. For commission of desired acts a reward is given while rewards can also be given for displaying behaviour by terminating undesired consequences

. • Both, positive and negative re-enforcement techniques are for strengthening desired behaviours. 

 • In work places, parking of vehicle at right places, following instructions on training, abiding by safety regulations, assisting employees in performance of their duty are the forms of negative re-enforcement. Because employees would follow instructions to avoid negative consequence of undesired behaviour

 • In former employees put in their best and work hard to get financial and other rewards but in the later case of re-enforcement employees work in such a way that they do not invite negative comments or reprimand from superiors.

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 Punishment 

• Punishment is awarded to an individual for undesired consequences of behaviour. 

• Punishment acts as deterrence to other individuals and prevents them from doing an undesired act. 

 • It is a method of decreasing frequency of occurrence of unpleasant behaviour and a tool generally used by organizations for corrective or modification of individual behaviour.

EXTINCTION 

 • Extinction refers to withdrawing of re-enforcement or reward so that the happening becomes less frequent and ultimately dies off. 

The method involves withdrawing positive re-enforcement earlier granted. Eliminating any re-enforcement is called extinction