HUMAN BEHAVIOR

Human Behavior

Human Behavior

Today's scholars in the behavioral sciences and education have generally come to the realization that we can no longer emphasize any one aspect of the social cognitive triad (the person, the environment, and the behavior itself) at the expense of the others (Luthans, 2005). The social cognitive theory integrates the objectivity and predictive capacity of reinforcement theory, with the depth, realism, and application of social cognitive perspectives. Reinforcement theory contributes greatly to behavior management for performance improvement and has many implications for modern human resource management such as career development. Social cognitive theory is a new development that extends reinforcement theory to overcome some of its limitations and provides a depth of understanding needed for today's increasingly complex and ever-changing environment (Bandura, 2006).

The most significant contribution of reinforcement theory is its implications for learning in general and for managing behavior in particular. Thorndike's early studies (with cats in a puzzle box) provided the well-known law of effect: Behavior followed by positive environmental consequences will increase in strength and subsequent frequency, while behaviors followed by negative or no environmental consequences will decrease in strength and subsequent frequency, and, over time, disappear. As the major premise of reinforcement theory, learning results from the connection between behaviors and environmental contingencies (Stajkovic, 2002).

Reinforcement theory provides an approach and specific guidelines for managing behavior. The application of rewards contingent upon the individual exhibiting desired performance behaviors will increase the probability that these behaviors will strengthen and be repeated. As the association or connection is formed between these behaviors and their contingent positive, desired consequences, the individual will learn that increasing the frequency of these behaviors will lead to receiving more of the desirable rewards. This reinforcement approach is called positive reinforcement. For example, if working harder with no errors results in ...