Lecture 14: The Complex Motivational Effects of Praise Flashcards
when can rewards be helpful?
- if they make you feel competent
- but even in these cases, rewards aren’t necessary
what should be our main task as a parent or coach?
to preserve intrinsic motivation
how do parents feel about praise vs. rewards
- Most parents feel guilty when they try to control their kids with rewards
- But, hardly anyone questions that praise is a good thing
Koestner’s nephews’ pictures story
- When Kevin was 3, he would draw pictures and title them
- Koestner told Kevin they reminded him of Marc Chagall’s paintings that he saw in a museum
- But, he soon realized he should also be praising Kevin’s brother
Koestner’s nephews’ pictures takeaway
You have to consider the impact of praise on other kids
4 common functions of praise
- create a bond
- motivate
- protect
- manipulate
praise as a means of creating a bond
adults think kids will like to hear praise
praise as a means of protecting
praise can help prevent kids from feeling like they’re no good at something
praise as a means of manipulating
praise helps guide kids to where you want them to go
koestner’s example of good praise
Prof. Koestener played a basketball game against Holy Child in 5th grade. The popular coach complimented his skills, which helped him become more interested in basketball
koestner’s example of bad praise
When he was in 8th grade, Prof. Koestner’s strict teacher announced that he had won a scholarship to a good Catholic high school and that no student from the school had won that scholarship in 4 years. She then went on to say that her efforts to make him better had succeeded. Instead of feeling recognized, he felt awkward about it
motivational impact of praise
is a complex question which depends on how praise is interpreted
what determines how praise is interpreted
- type of relationship
- type of praise
- age, gender, cultural background
- public nature
praise and type of relationship
praise from someone you admire, like or want to be close to will have a more positive impact, but praise from a more forbidding, strict, controlling figure will have a more negative impact
praise
to commend the worth of someone’s behaviour to express approval or admiration
common assumption of praise
praise = verbal reinforcement
when will praise act as a reinforcer
if it is contingent, specific, and credible (sincere, varied, and believable)
what percentage of teachers’ comments are praise vs. criticism
About 5% of teacher’s comments are praise and 10% are criticism
what do observational studies find about praise?
- it doesn’t function as a reinforcer
- it serves 9 functions
9 functions of praise
- positive guidance
- transition ritual
- balance for criticism
- icebreaker or peace offering
- consolation prize or encouragement
- vindication of predictions
- attempted vicarious reinforcement
- student-elicited stroking
- spontaneous expression of surprise or admiration