Reply #4: B. F. Skinner, the behavioral psychologist whose groundbreaking [View All]

[Warpy]

work with pigeons, levers and food pellets has saved me from gambling, determined through his work with several species including humans that reward works far better than punishment does and that intermittent reward is the most effective strategy of all.

It's amazing that educators and managers are never taught this, that they sit though hours and hours of propaganda without learning a thing about how to manage employees and get what they want from their workforces. Instead, they all arrive at their jobs unprepared and engage in the bullying and intimidation they experienced in school because it's the only behavioral pattern they have.

I've been both boss and employee. B.F. Skinner's stuff works well. Employees would go the extra mile, often without being asked, if they knew reward was possible. The only person I ever had to fire had a drinking problem.

It's time for pedagogues and middle managers alike to pick up on this stuff.