Punishment

1)      This final week of discussion we are exploring the most important skill sets that leaders will need as change is occurring. Where do you see your greatest strengths and areas for further development?

     My greatest strengths would be having the ability to identify the issues and how to plan to change them. I feel I have the ability to create a vision for change, know how to pick the right messenger, I enjoy communicating with others, and I support giving employees a voice.

     My greatest weaknesses would be how to clearly identify: who, what, why, when, and how of the change, unfreeze the current thinking of the system by highlighting the gaps, and when the change has occurred who to keep the issues from slipping back into the old ways of doing things.

2)      Address the research we explored on using punishment, the myths that exist, and when it can be effective and when it is ineffective.

Punishment is the administering the withdrawal of a positive event to decrease the likelihood that the behavior will be repeated.

   A). The first myth was that B.F Skinner, a psychologist, shed light on how punishment can be ineffective. He drew his conclusions by comparing rats to humans.

   B). The second myth is that punishment can be unethical and inhumane if there is a psychological repercussion, like abuse. People have said that there is an ethical distinction between future-oriented and past-oriented punishment, but the effects of failing to administer punishment are costly. Future-oriented trade helps improve behavior is effective, but past-oriented punishment is retribution or payback which is ineffective.

   C). The third myth is that punishment does not resolve into permanent behavior, but only lasted temporarily. This is indicated by high levels of recidivism. This is due to the acts that a person repeats that is undesirable behaviors and they are in prisons at an approximate 85% rate.