Reinforcement

If behaviour is rewarded, it possibly will be repeated. Positive support consists of rewarding wanted behaviours. People ignore certain behaviours that invite punishment and criticism. A bank officer would wish to do a post graduate course in finance, if it earns him increment and makes him qualified for further promotions. Both the external rewards (praise, investments) and the internal rewards (a feeling of pride and attainment) related with desired behaviours compel subjects to learn correctly. To be effective, the trainer has to reward desired behaviours only. If he rewards bad performance, the results can be disastrous: good performers can quit in frustration, accidents can go up, and productivity can suffer. The supportive principle is also depending on the premise that punishment is fewer effective in learning than reward. Punishment is a pointer to unwanted behaviours. When administered, it causes pain to the worker. He may or may not repeat the mistakes. The reactions can be wild or mild. Action taken to repeal a person from unwanted action is punishment. If administered correctly, punishment can force the trainee to change the undesired or wrong behaviours.