Reinforcement theory of motivation

theory by B F SKINNER

1. REINFORCEMENT
THEORY OF
MOTIVATION
D R A M I T K U M A RL A L
F O U N D E R , S K I L L I C S
D A T A S C I E N T I S T @ 1 0 E Q S

2. INTRODUCTION
•The Theory was proposed by B F Skinner.
•The Theory states that individual’s behavior is a function of
its consequences
•It is based on law of effect.

3. IN SIMPLE TERMS
•Individual’s behavior with positive consequences
tends to be repeated
•Individual’s behavior with negative consequences
tends not to be repeated

4. USAGE IN ORGANISATION
•A manager can use these methods to control the behaviour
of the employees-
a)Positive Reinforcement
b)Negative Reinforcement
c)Punishment
d)Extinction

5. POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT
•Amanagermustgivepositiveresponsewhenanindividualshows
positiveandrequiredbehavior.Forexample-Immediatelypraisingan
employeeforcomingearlyforjob.
•Thiswillincreaseprobabilityofoutstandingbehaviouroccurring
again.
•Rewardisapositivereinforce,butnotnecessarily.Ifandonlyifthe
employees’behaviorimproves,rewardcansaidtobeapositive
reinforcer.
•Itmustbenotedthatmorespontaneousisthegivingofreward,the
greaterreinforcementvalueithas

6. NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT
•Utkarsh doesn’t want to eat green vegetables but his parents keep
trying to get him to eat them.
•At dinner time, if there is green vegetables on his plate he will scream
and shout until they are taken off his plate.
•Parents always give in to the tantrums and take away the green
vegetables because his tantrums are becoming increasingly severe
and last longer.
–Before:green vegetables on the plate.
–Behaviour:screaming.
–After:vegetables no longer on the plate.
–Future behaviour:Utkarsh will scream when he doesn’t want
carrots.

7. PUNISHMENT
•Punishmentmeansapplyingundesirableconsequencefor
showingundesirablebehavior.
•Forinstance-Suspendinganemployeeforbreakingthe
organizationalrules.
•Punishmentcanbeequalizedbypositivereinforcementfrom
alternativesource.

8. EXTINCTION
•It implies absence of reinforcements.
•In other words, extinction implies lowering the probability of
undesired behaviour by removing reward for that kind of behaviour.
•For instance -if an employee no longer receives praise and admiration
for his good work, he may feel that his behaviour is generating no
fruitful consequence.
•Extinction may unintentionally lower desirable behaviour.

9. CRITICISM
•Reinforcementtheoryofmotivationignorestheinnerfeelingsand
drivesofindividuals.
•Thistheoryfocusestotallyonwhathappenstoanindividualwhenhe
takessomeaction.Thus,accordingtoSkinner,theexternal
environmentoftheorganizationmustbedesignedeffectivelyand
positivelysoastomotivatetheemployee.
•Thistheoryisastrongtoolforanalyzingcontrollingmechanismfor
individual’sbehaviour.However,itdoesnotfocusonthecausesof
individual’sbehaviour

10. THANKS