Average person Quote by Thomas Gilovich
““Psychologists have known for some time that rewarding desirable responses is generally more effective in shaping behavior than punishing undesirable responses.19 However, the average person tends to find this fact surprising, and punishment has been the preferred reinforcer for the majority of parents in both modern society19 and in earlier periods.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Science of Influence, 2010
Rewarding desired behavior is more effective than punishment, though many parents still favor punishment.
In simple terms: Rewards work better than punishments, but people often think otherwise.
Prefer positive reinforcement.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- child rearing
- education
- workplace management
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do we default to punishment?
- How can we shift to reward‑based systems?
Cultural norms may resist change.