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Studies Motivates Punishment More Than Reward?
Learning processes are essentially characterized by the effects of reward and punishment, but it remains unclear to this day whether negative feedback or positive feedback will have a greater impact. Washington University researchers have now published a study in the journal "Cognition" that finds a more direct effect on punishment, but at the same time concludes that the effect is not related to the level of the penalty.
One of the most popular videos on reward and punishment, published by the TED Blog, features two capuchin monkeys sitting side by side in their cages. In the attempt of the Dutch primatologist Frans de Waal, the monkeys are encouraged to pass stones through holes in the transparent windscreen to the outside. For this they receive from the researcher Dr. med. Sarah Brosnan a reward.
Reward is not the same reward
In the experiment, the first capuchin monkey gets a slice of cucumber after he has successfully mastered the task - and he is very pleased about it. The second monkey solves the task just as quickly, but the researcher reaches into another glass and hands him a grape, which is attentively observed by the first monkey. He quickly prepares for the task again and passes the stone through the hole, hoping for the sweet grapes. The researcher, however, reaches back into the cucumber glass and hands the monkey a slice, whereupon the latter picks up the cucumber according to Dr. Walser. Brosnan throws and, angry, shaking the cage, complains about the injustice. Here it becomes clear that reward is not the same reward. To the monkey, the initially joyfully accepted reward in another context seems like a punishment.
Punishment shows a direct effect on behavior Behavioral factors examined
The researchers around Jan Kubanek from Washington University have now addressed the question "whether reward and punishment act as opposing components of a behavioral factor, or whether these two types of outcomes fundamentally play different roles in behavior." let probands on a computer observe a variety of rapidly flashing lights and estimate on which side of the monitor more lights appeared, reports the "Berliner Morgenpost" from the studies of US researchers. Each correct estimate was rewarded with a randomly chosen amount between five and 25 cents, and for each incorrect estimate, a randomly chosen amount between five and 25 cents was deducted from the participants.
Punishment leads directly to behavioral change
A correct estimate had meant that those affected increasingly repeated their previous choice, the probability with the amount of the reward scaled, the researchers write in the journal "Cognition". However, if punished, those affected would have changed their strategy immediately, regardless of how high the loss was. According to the study, the influence of money loss on behavior was up to three times greater than that of money gain, according to the Berliner Morgenpost newspaper. Study leader Jan Kubanek is quoted by the newspaper as saying that "negative feedback is more effective than positive feedback when it comes to changing behavior." Since the amount of rewards obviously correlated strongly with behavior, the level of rewards Punishment, however, had no further impact, the researchers also conclude that rewards and punishment are two fundamentally different behavioral factors and not a factor in different weighting.
Learning processes work with punishments and rewards
According to the researchers, the fact that the punishment had the immediate effect of changing behavior, regardless of their height, may be explained by the fact that, from an evolutionary point of view, the punishments were often associated with serious, sometimes life-threatening consequences, reports the Berliner Morgenpost. In addition, two years ago, another US research team had come to the supposition that the pure fear of loss plays an essential role here. For example, in another investigation, the expected loss of money was more motivated to solve complicated anagrams than the expectation of a profit after completing the task. Fundamentally, however, both reward and punishment are suitable for motivation. This is what the study of US psychologist Burrhus Frederic Skinner showed as early as 1930. He had put hungry pigeons in a box and watched how long it took them to learn that they could get food by operating a lever. Food was released by accidentally pressing the lever while picking, encouraging them to reap the rewards. Over time, they had the effect and were able to provide specifically with food. However, if the researchers reversed the effect and refused to feed the birds for long periods of time after using the lever, the pigeons soon stopped operating the levers.
Contrary effect possible
Since then, it is clear that learning processes are significantly influenced by reward and punishment, but remains open when more rewards and when penalties are appropriate. There is also uncertainty about the right amount of punishment and rewards. Many studies have now confirmed that under certain conditions, sometimes exactly the opposite of what would actually be achieved, reports the "Berliner Morgenpost". Researchers in Israel came to the conclusion that imposing a fine on parents who did not pick up their children on time from the day care center would only increase their punctuality. The parents felt that they had been freed from punctuality by paying the penalty and that they appeared later than before.
Rewards can affect your self-motivation
Rewards can sometimes also be a negative effect, especially if behavior is rewarded, which is intrinsic motivation - so of its own initiative - is already evident, so the "Berliner Morgenpost". Studies on children have shown, for example, that they lose the joy of puzzle when you reward them with sweets. The reward lost the self-motivation. Rewards are meaningful only if not the puzzles themselves, but the performance - such as the speed of the puzzle or the number of completed puzzle - will be rewarded.
Mild punishments with a positive effect on the intrinsic motivation
Reward and punishment form an extrinsic motivation of their own, although with their help an intrinsic motivation can certainly be achieved. This is illustrated by another US study in which volunteers first completed a boring experiment, which they then intended to sell to the next subject as exciting, according to the "Berliner Morgenpost". For this they received either one or $ 20 reward. After receiving the reward, the participants were asked again how they rate the experiment. Those who had received a lot of money for their lie increasingly declared that the experiment had actually been extremely boring, while the participants with low pay, changed their opinions frequently and rated the experiment as less boring, reports the "Berliner Morgenpost". Since they received such a small reward for their lie, the reward did not serve as a justification for participation and they subsequently adapted their attitudes to their own behavior.
Furthermore, the effects of rewards and punishments on behavior remain largely unclear, according to the current Washington study, but in particular the lack of correlation between the level of punishment and behavioral change provides many starting points for further research. The only thing that is clear is that numerous factors play a decisive role here, and that the relationship to the rewards or punishments of others is also of crucial importance. (Fp)
Proof: Rike