Consequences
In this module, we will explore the characteristics of effective consequences and discuss how supervisors can guide their employees beyond mere compliance, achieving excellence in safety performance.
Operant Conditioning
All it takes is sound management (an organizational skill) and leadership (a relationship skill) applied daily. So, let's look at the various kinds of consequences supervisors can use to affect behaviors.
Consequence Categories
There are two basic types of consequences: reinforcers and punishers.
- Reinforcers: Reinforcers are consequences that increase the frequency of a behavior. When the supervisor gives an employee an "atta-boy," smile, or pat on the back, the response is a reinforcer because it increases the behavior that caused the response.
- Punishers: Punishers are consequences that decrease the frequency of a behavior. When the supervisor reprimands, demotes, or yells at the employee, the response is a punisher because it decreases the behavior that caused the response.
There are four basic categories of consequence strategies that motivate behaviors:
- Positive reinforcement: The goal of positive reinforcement is to increase desired behaviors by adding something pleasant like recognizing an employee for good work.
- Negative reinforcement: The goal of negative reinforcement goal is to encourage good behavior by not reprimanding or reducing workload.
- Positive punishment: The goal of positive punishment is to decrease unwanted behaviors by adding something unpleasant like being cited by OSHA for a safety violation.
- Negative punishment: The goal of negative punishment is to decrease unwanted behaviors by removing something pleasant like withholding a scheduled bonus due to poor work.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
7-2. What are the two basic types of consequences?
You forgot to answer the question!