Were you ever afraid to push any button a scammer asked you to push for fear you would catch a virus? It’s much the same as tuning out people who use a great deal of profanity or shock stories at the water cooler.
Here is why people who use shock effects often get marginalized at work. You likely remember from your college classes … that negative reinforcement of a particular behavior is strengthened when you can stop or avoid a negative act.
For example, a rat is placed in a cage and immediately receives a mild electrical shock on its feet. The shock is a negative condition for the rat. The rat presses a lever and the shock stops. The rat receives another shock, presses the lever again, and again the shock stops. The rat’s behavior of pressing the lever is strengthened by the consequence of stopping the shock. Negative reinforcement of shock behavior at work is much the same … if others respond in ways that don’t encourage offensive behavior or racist language.
The word “negative” here means that the consequence is a removal of shock. The word “reinforcement” is used to show that a person’s response can increase the rate of response in an offensive behavior. Mayou Angela asked a man to leave her circle of invited guests for the Thanksgiving weekend, when he made a racial slur in their conversation.
Negative reinforcement is also called “escape.” Are you old enough to remember the Snagglepuss line – “Exit stage left! What do you do when you meet shocking behavior in others at work?
Comment Preview