Punished by Rewards: The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, A'S, Praise and Other Bribes

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Punished by Rewards: The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, A'S, Praise and Other Bribes

4.15 of 5 stars 4.15 · rating details · 974 ratings · 132 reviews

The basic strategy we use for raising children, teaching students, and managing workers can be summarized in six words: do this and you'll get that. We dangle goodies (from candy bars to sales commissions) in front of people in much the same way that we train a family pet. The quick fix of rewards may seem to be effective, but manipulating people with external incentives a...more

Paperback, 398 pages

Published January 1st 1993 by Mariner Books

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Jan 19, 2013 Karin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: university-library, teaching-parenting, non-fiction

My daughter's gr. 1 teacher just announced that if the kids read 100 books, they'd get a reward. Instead of being enthusiastic, or eager to read, DD just got upset and worried that now she can't get the reward because 100 seemed way too many. How different is 100 from a bazillion to a gr. 1 kid who barely knows how to count that high?

Reading this book helped me to understand that frustration, and non-interest is a normal reaction to bribery. Kohn states that kids and adults alike see both rewa...more

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Aug 12, 2007 Elizabeth Fuller rated it 4 of 5 stars

A lot of what the author says - that the use of rewards as motivators (for children, students, employees, etc.) is not only ineffective, but often detrimental to morale and motivation - makes a lot of sense, and certainly represents a fresh perspective. Despite this, however, I couldn't shake a lingering feeling of disagreement. Not that I don't believe his arguments...but I also don't think he leaves enough room for individual difference. For example, while I do agree with him that intrinsic mo...more

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Apr 13, 2013 Kate rated it 3 of 5 stars

this book is so great in the one main thing it set out to do, which is to point out 1) how totally saturated our culture is in giving people rewards to act the way you want them to (behavioralism, a notion/technique popularized by BF Skinner but around for ages), and 2) to point out all the subsequent research showing how giving rewards for a task/attitude/behavior kills the positive relationship between the doer and the deed. If you start paying kids to play their favorite game, they lose inter...more this book is so great in the one main thing it set out to do, which is to point out 1) how totally saturated our culture is in giving people rewards to act the way you want them to (behavioralism, a notion/technique popularized by BF Skinner but around for ages), and 2) to point out all the subsequent research showing how giving rewards for a task/attitude/behavior kills the positive relationship between the doer and the deed. If you start paying kids to play their favorite game, they lose interest in the game, etc. Merit pay doesn't improve employee performance OR company performance. On and on. It's great stuff, and as a mom, has me looking at my own techniques for keeping the three year old in line. (Let's be real, there're lots of bribes and threats.)

That said, if I read this book closely I feel like my head would explode. Not only is the prose cute and best sellers (which I honestly don't mind if the content is substantial), I found his repeated gotcha! thing irritating. And god damn is this repetitive. I mean, more than the usual repetitive idea-based, non-fiction best seller. So I read fast, skimmed many parts, all those passages where this man was reluctant to let go of the sound of his own voice, the hundred ways he makes the same point over and over, and... Okay, I"m not sure about this criticism because I was reading so fast, but I'm pretty sure there are more than a few dubious rhetorical/logical techniques. You know, when you use the conclusion as support for your conclusion. Or when you give readers false dichotomies. Or when you discredit opposing ideas entirely, make your point in a more refined way and... I pretty sure he gives his own arguments a nuance and qualifications which he doesn't give to opposing ones.

That said, this book is perfect for a skim. Because the research about bahavioralism is unequivocal. And how much we (Americans) love to reward behavior we approve of--I mean, it doesn't even seem like an idea that has competing ideas. It just feels like what makes sense, because it's so ingrained in our life. And that is a powerful point that Kohn often makes very persuasively.

I like the guy on Goodread's comment that this was the most interesting and the most boring book he's read in a while.(less)

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Jan 21, 2013 Nicole rated it 3 of 5 stars

I read this book for an on-line education class. It made me question both the behavior management tools I use with my students and my son. Kohn does provide practical strategies to use to "wean" kids off rewards and punishments, but I know I've got a long road ahead if I was to STOP cold turkey. Sometimes the methods just aren't going to work unless you've set your classroom without grades and other rewards from the beginning. As far as my son is concerned, I think this book touches on the reaso...more

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Nov 27, 2012 Lisa Delaine Youngblood rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have never read a book that so questioned societal norms, nor have I ever altered my views so much based on the concepts introduced in a book. The title of this book explains exactly what readers can expect. As with any book discussing parenting skills, work levels, and manipulation, readers will have to determine for themselves whether or not they can agree, disagree, or at least rethink their previous opinions. This book requires readers to look closely at the heart of motivations -- both in...more

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Jan 09, 2012 Jen Marin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: nonfiction-mindfulness, nonfiction-psychology, nonfiction-parenting, nonfiction-education, nonfiction-balanced-living

In Punished by Rewards, Alfie Kohn challenges many of the sacred ideas that fuel our modern culture. Despite the widespread use of both punishments and rewards, the evidence is strong that neither approach is very effective at motivating people. From the corporate world to the classroom, the tradition of behaviorism is almost ubiquitous, where gold stars, grades, prizes and even cash are dangled before people under the common perception that doing so will improve their performance.

Research sho...more In Punished by Rewards, Alfie Kohn challenges many of the sacred ideas that fuel our modern culture. Despite the widespread use of both punishments and rewards, the evidence is strong that neither approach is very effective at motivating people. From the corporate world to the classroom, the tradition of behaviorism is almost ubiquitous, where gold stars, grades, prizes and even cash are dangled before people under the common perception that doing so will improve their performance.

Research shows that this method is unlikely to bring about lasting change, high quality work, or true attention to the task at hand. In fact, it can do the exact opposite. Many studies show that if we reward people for behavior that they enjoy, they often cease doing it once the reward is taken away. By approaching training with threats and bribes, we interfere with the development of intrinsic motivation and replace it with a focus on external ramifications.This changes the focus from the activity at hand to the end result, which reduces creativity and saps the joy from the work. Even though we may feel better using the carrot than the stick, the reality is that neither approach is truly helpful.

How can this be true, when both rewards and punishments appear to work so well? Studies show that while people can be induced to be more productive for a period of time, this is true only for quantity, not quality. The changes also rarely last, and need to be constantly reinforced with new rewards or punishments in order to induce a new round of temporary change. Rewards can have other effects too. When prizes and rewards are in limited supply, a competitive environment ensues. This can reduce cooperation, mentoring, and teamwork, and even encourage people to game the system to get the reward.

These ideas have great ramifications in the workplace, the classroom, and in the home. Although it may be easier to punish a child who misbehaves, the only thing it teaches the child is the use of power over others. We may think we are making a point about a misbehavior, but the point we are really making is that we have the power, and we are willing to use it. As a result, future thought will focus on how not to get caught rather than on how the situation could have been handled differently.

This is a big problem. Perhaps THE big problem. Mindfuless psychology and Buddhist tradition insist that all of our suffering is caused by not being in the moment. Flow studies demonstrate that optimal experiences are best cultivated through attention and presence. Attention is powerful medicine, and instead of learning to direct it and use it, we are trained to trade it for trinkets.

I have a long way to go to recover from my own submersion in this paradigm, but I am actively engaging in my life in ways that I hope will reduce it's impact. As a parent, I am intimidated by the work ahead of me, weaning off the easy solutions and responding to the moment rather than from habit or convenience. I feel compelled to undertake this journey with my children, however, as the benefits of developing this presence in them far outweigh any temporary relief I may get from a threat or a bribe. Habits can be hard to break, however. Luckily, Kohn ends on an encouraging note, and suggests that even small steps in this direction are better than none. We can wean off punishments, recognize the harm that bribery can do, and perhaps choose our battles more wisely so that we throw down the gauntlet less often. We can invite participation from those we are working with in order to develop better skills at solving our problems with creative cooperation and compassionate communication. Together we can help create a brighter future for us all.

I would recommend this book to parents, teachers, managers and anyone working towards creating a more egalitarian world.(less)

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May 31, 2010 nitin rated it 3 of 5 stars

There were some important lessons in this book.
* Be careful of using extrinsic factors as a manager, teacher, or parent. by promoting, "if you do this, then you will get that" does not develop intrinsically motivated people.
* Rewards, praise, and incentives can sometimes be just as damaging as punishments.
* It is important to be thoughtful, supportive, and proactive in understanding the underlying issues of a problem rather than addressing the symptoms.

At the same time, I found the book repetiti...more

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May 31, 2010 Marshall rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Parents, Teachers, Managers

Recommended to Marshall by: Joanie

I didn't give this book a 5 for fantastic writing. Although, Kohn is funny and insightful at times but he is also kind of repetitive (if you only read the first 5 chapters you'd learn everything you needed to know about the problem with rewards). The ideas in this book rang true to me as I read them. For example, achieving short-term compliance from my kids by offering them rewards (go get ready for bed without a fight and I'll read you stories until 7:30) is not only manipulative and selfish mo...more

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Jul 06, 2012 Kryptique rated it 4 of 5 stars

Read this in our Master's program. I never thought about how rewarding and praising constantly is just as detrimental to kids (and anyone) as constant criticism or punishment. But it is the other side of the same coin. Because, when the awards etc ease up, it's like the child is being punished. What about letting people find their own enjoyment and satisfaction in their own pursuits and successes? What about people making the right choices and doing the right things because that is what they kno...more

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Jan 13, 2011 Beth Williams rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book blew me away. It has made me rethink so many things I've come to accept as just "the way things are" and realize the Skinnerian world in which we were all raised. "Do this, and you get that" is such a given and such an easy quick fix to the way we obtain compliance as teachers, parents, or employers. But does it really work? and if so, for how long? and at what cost?

I am grateful to have read this book while my children are still young and I have a chance to make some choices about how...more

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Jun 02, 2012 Jasonlylescampbell rated it 3 of 5 stars

Review of Punished by Rewards by Alfie Kohn

Perhaps the best way to go about describing this book is to begin with what was most impacting to my life and way of thinking, then proceed to interesting asides from the book and then to end with a word or two of negative criticism.

Punished by Rewards (PBR (ha!)) went a long way to deconstruct some of my typical reactions to my children when they are doing wrong. Doing wrong is obviously a much in need of qualification but I will define it further as...more

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Jan 05, 2013 Tucker rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: brain, finished, relativist

Parents and teachers often implement reward systems for good behavior and performance. Alfie Kohn says it's an "ideology" that ought to be questioned, because its actual psychological effects backfire. A reward system implies that the person who gives the reward has all the power. If the authority withholds the reward, it turns into a punishment. And all of this attention on rewards and punishments redirects attention away from the task (e.g. studying) that ideally should be cultivated for its i...more

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Mar 25, 2011 Brittney Christensen rated it 3 of 5 stars

To sum it up, this book is how we are slaves and make each other slaves to rewards when, if fact rewards are actaully shown to decrease intrinsic motivation. Case studies showed children who were given a reward if they played with certain toys and then, once that reward was taken, the children were turned off to that toy. When I read it, I loved it. It seemed inspired and appealed to my soft spot for rebellion. I felt that the this might what was wring with public education.

Now, that I am finish...more

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May 19, 2013 Kelly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Kohn argues that rewards and punishments fail in the long-run. Offering a reward or threatening punishment may bring compliance but does not teach morality. In fact, it breeds extrinsically oriented people who tend to be preform less creatively, be more depressed, and feel more helpless than intrinsically oriented people (p. 95). Rather than teach individuals to be good because it's the right thing, rewards teach an entirely different lesson. Be good and you'll get this. Kohn outlines five reaso...more Kohn argues that rewards and punishments fail in the long-run. Offering a reward or threatening punishment may bring compliance but does not teach morality. In fact, it breeds extrinsically oriented people who tend to be preform less creatively, be more depressed, and feel more helpless than intrinsically oriented people (p. 95). Rather than teach individuals to be good because it's the right thing, rewards teach an entirely different lesson. Be good and you'll get this. Kohn outlines five reasons rewards don't work: (1) they punish, (2) they rupture relationships, (3) they ignore reasons, (4) they discourage risk-taking, (5) they reduce intrinsic motivation. He spends a considerable amount of time on this last point, noting that "promising a reward for an activity is 'tantamount to declaring that the activity is not worth doing for its own sake'" (p. 76). Given that this method of motivation is so pervasive in our society, it was interesting to read what it's flaws are and what might be used as alternatives in various contexts.

The chapter I had the hardest time swallowing was the one on praise. Most likely this is because I have two three year olds and dool out praise constantly and not in what I believe is an effort to control but in one that is meant to encourage. I loved his conclusion that "the real problem is not that children expect to be praised for everything they do, it is that adults are tempted to take shortcuts, to manipulate their behavior with the use of rewards instead of explaining, helping them develop needed skills, fostering a commitment to good values, and bringing them in on the process of deciding how to learn and behave....The trouble with rewards is not that we hand them out too easily; it is that they are controlling, ultimately ineffective, and likely to undermine intrinsic motivation (p. 115-6). This is something that has been echoed in numerous other texts I've read on parenting. Basically, there are no shortcuts. Raising good people requires time and energy, something that seems we all have less and less of these days but if that's your goal, it's worth the effort.

I ended up skipping chapter 10 about motivation in the workplace because it didn't have much relevance in my life but all other chapters and the book in general was really thought-provoking. I'm not sure how you change things on a larger level but in my own sphere of influence, he's convinced me that it's worth trying. (less)

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May 08, 2009 Beth A. rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to Beth A. by: Laura Dotson

Shelves: nonfiction, parenting

I love parenting books, and I love exploring different ideas on how to parent , but this one was more difficult for me. The first few chapters are based on the assumption that no one human has the right to control another person. The idea is abhorrent to Kohn. This may be true in the workplace, but for parenting and to a lesser degree schooling, there are times when even the most lenient parent must have some control. You can’t exactly reason with a two year old that running in the street isn’t...more I love parenting books, and I love exploring different ideas on how to parent , but this one was more difficult for me. The first few chapters are based on the assumption that no one human has the right to control another person. The idea is abhorrent to Kohn. This may be true in the workplace, but for parenting and to a lesser degree schooling, there are times when even the most lenient parent must have some control. You can’t exactly reason with a two year old that running in the street isn’t safe and expect them to comply. Some control is necessary. Preferably some sort of physical boundary.

The book became more interesting to me when he started discussing intrinsic and extrinsic boundaries. Kohn presented research that proves that when rewards are used to mold behavior (he calls it pop-behavioralism), although there may be an immediate change in behavior, when the rewards are removed, the behavior returns to pre-reward or worse. There are also many studies that show that when people are offered an award for a doing a difficult task they take longer or are less likely to accomplish the task than people not offered the reward. And when children were paid for doing a puzzle, they were less likely to play with it when they thought the study was over than someone who was not paid or rewarded. So his points were that rewards (and punishments) don’t work, and that they cause our motivation to become extrinsic. That is, instead of learning for enjoyment, one learns to please the teacher, get a sticker, or a grade. Instead of sharing because of an inner compassion, we share to please a parent or because we are praised for sharing. This makes sense to me. I want my children to be motivated by intrinsic motivation, to have and act upon values deeply rooted within themselves. But as a parent, trying to teach these values, when you take away rewards and punishment (which he states is even worse than rewards), what is left? Kohn seems to suggest discussing values and reasons with children. My son is not very verbal. I think I could talk all day and still not persuade him or get any idea why he objects to my request. I really feel that Kohn has taken away my parenting tools without giving me an adequate replacement. I don’t think that he provides enough examples of solutions that do work.
(less)

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Mar 08, 2012 Shannah rated it 5 of 5 stars

I think everyone who interacts with students or employees ought to be required to read this book, since it debunks the myth of rewards as the best motivation at school or work. *spoiler alert* Skinnerian behaviorism is thoroughly discredited.

At times it was hard to keep reading, since I kept getting freaked out about my kids and their schooling. I worry all the time that their joy in learning, their creativity, and their ability to make their own decisions in life are being crushed right out of...more

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Feb 28, 2012 Nicole rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Nicole by: Alicia

I like how the book is broken up so you could essentially just read about what interests you in regards to rewards whether work, child rearing or school. I felt all pertained to me.

This book depressed me! It was written in 1993 & he presents a lot of supporting research, yet NOTHING has changed in public education!! Then here I am with this information that makes sense & have very little power because to make these lasting changes would require drastic measures in the world of education...more

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Apr 10, 2009 Sherry (sethurner) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: nonfiction, teachers-and-teaching

It has been a while since I read Alfie Kohn's book. I heard him speak at a teachers' convention and was intrigued by his assertion that teachers and parents kill children's motivation by offering rewards/bribes. So, candy, stickers, certificates, cash and other incentives really don't motivate! It went along with my casual observation that students to whom I sent commendations soon lost their commendabe behaviors, and it went along with a university class I took in the 80's about motivational th...more

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Jul 18, 2011 Amanda Kaye rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: education-school, non-fiction

What an insightful book! It really makes you stop and look at what the world, our schools, and our homes are teaching kids by bribing and rewarding every little things they do! Kids are becoming entitled and they know it too. As a teacher it has made me rethink and change how I reward kids in my class. I want the focus of learning to be about the enjoyment of learning. Not about trying to earn the next sticker on a chart on the wall. Rewards and Punishments have their place in life, but I feel t...more

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Jun 26, 2010 Josh rated it 3 of 5 stars

The thesis of this book is that when offered a reward to do something that is inherently interesting we lose interest in that thing. External motivations diminish intrinsic motivations. They are also controlling and not very respectful of the humanity of whomever you are trying to get to do something. I believe that his observations explain why so many of my students just do the bare minimum to get by; they are working for their grade and not much else. Still, grades and the sorting of human bei...more

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Oct 13, 2010 David rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: parents, teachers, supervisors

Shelves: psychology

What a great book! I have long been bothered by the question, "How do you motivate people?" And the answer is here--you cannot motivate people with extrinsic rewards. You can only set up situations so that the motivation comes from within, intrinsically. You must do this by giving the person control over decisions, over his life. Incentives, rewards, grades, and punishments remove personal control; they work in the short term, but when the incentives are stopped, the desired behavior stops also....more

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Oct 20, 2012 Velvet Jane rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction

The concept asserted by Kohn regarding the failure of a culture based on rewards and coercion is something that many parents, employers and teachers may benefit from considering. Once rewards are removed, and work and success is acknowledged in a less physically tangible and more emotional and psychologically perceptible manner, many people will discover a greater sense of personal fulfillment.

I admit I read this for a class assignment, but ultimately it was a "textbook" that I did not return,...more

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Jun 14, 2012 Joe rated it 3 of 5 stars

Found some very interesting ideas to contemplate in Kohn's argument here. I was primarily concerned with the school/education aspect of rewards (it runs rampant!). Relying upon grades, stickers, praise, etc. to motivate students is extremely detrimental to the development of their understanding the intrinsic rewards of learning. However, I can't help but consider tons of times I (or my students) have benefitted from an extrinsic reward that helped facilitate me seeing the bigger picture and intr...more

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Mar 31, 2013 Mary Whisner rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: education, psychology

Thought-provoking and troubling. Drawing from psychology, business, and education literature, the author makes a convincing case that incentives generally don't work: people focus on the reward (an A, a bonus) not the task, and they become less interested and less creative. And there are basic problems with the central idea of incentives: manipulation and control. Who likes to feel manipulated? The afterword of the 1999 edition begins by noting that this book was excerpted when it first appeared...more

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Jan 28, 2010 Victoria rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book was great! A good critique of mainstream education. Alfie Kohn always rocks my world, challenging societal norms on parenting an education. Now I know what was wrong with my education. Reading this book has made the hunt for a preschool for my 3 year old very difficult, I don't know how I am going to get through her education given the damaging education system. Home school or unschooling seems to be the only options when the school district we live in is getting rid of alternative pro...more

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Jun 16, 2012 C. Derick Varn rated it 3 of 5 stars

While there are many great ideas in the book, and Cohn has done a lot of work to justify them, he neither lays out ways to radically break with the current educational nor is it realistic for an individual teacher to implement against the culture of the school. So it can be frustrating for teachers to get decent ideas and a good view of what education could be in rewarding intrinsic motivation, it practical application is limited for both individual teacher reforms and visionaries wishing to est...more

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Aug 15, 2011 Steve Reifman rated it 5 of 5 stars

A must-read for educators and parents concerned about the damaging effects of using rewards, prizes, and other extrinsic motivators to manage or raise children. Citing numerous research studies, Kohn argues that rewards are both ineffective, because they lead only to short-term compliance as opposed to the development of positive long-term habits, and destructive, because their use contains many serious side effects. Most notably, rewards reduce the intrinsic motivation to learn and to grow that...more

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Apr 02, 2012 Keith Kendall rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: psychology

By Alfie Kohn

Alas the book challenges so many of our cherished beliefs that I am beginning to see the the loss of motivation in a new light. It is disconcerting to see how widely his critique applies.

"Skinner spent his life denying the idea of choice and urging us to control reinforcers in the environment since they, in turn, control us." (p. 30)

The most notable aspect of a positive judgment is not that it is positive but that it is a judgment. (Page 102)

The legendary statistical consultant W. E...more

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Nov 27, 2011 Eric added it

Do rewards motivate people? Absolutely. They motivate people to get rewards

Definitely glad to have read this book. I hope that having read this book I can avoid the trap of "I like how you did Nice Thing X".

Dunno, maybe it just gels so nicely with my general world view and it's just ~~cognitive dissonance~~ confirmation bias (damn brain, used the wrong word) talking; Alfie's right because he says what I want to hear. Paying kids for grades/chores always felt "wrong". Praise always felt like an insu...more

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Dec 20, 2010 kat rated it 3 of 5 stars

In a certain way, this book was one of the most interesting I've ever read. Its main ideas were refreshing and surprising: Rewards demotivate people. Praise can do the same, plus insult them to boot. Kids learn better when they can work in groups. Students benefit from being allowed to make choices about what and how they learn. Our desire for "obedience" needs closer examination, starting with asking whether our requests are reasonable.

In another way, this was one of the most boring books I've...more In a certain way, this book was one of the most interesting I've ever read. Its main ideas were refreshing and surprising: Rewards demotivate people. Praise can do the same, plus insult them to boot. Kids learn better when they can work in groups. Students benefit from being allowed to make choices about what and how they learn. Our desire for "obedience" needs closer examination, starting with asking whether our requests are reasonable.

In another way, this was one of the most boring books I've ever read. The author seemed to have difficulty trusting that he had properly conveyed his points to the reader. The basic claims and the reasoning behind them were reiterated far too frequently. I kept wondering if the book had originally been published as separate articles for different magazines, written such that each chapter could be understood on its own without the reader's having absorbed the concepts in the previous chapters. The atrociously long sentences, with their many clauses and (often unnecessary) parenthetical asides, continually strained my attention to the breaking point. Despite my interest in the subject, I found myself daydreaming about picking up other, less taxing, books.

The parts of this book that you don't want to miss involved the recaps of studies that back up Kohn's claims. These are fascinating: Children who were rewarded for playing certain math games avoided those same games like the plague when the rewards stopped coming, while children who had never been rewarded continued to play with and enjoy them. children who were praised for drinking an unfamiliar beverage showed less desire to have some more a week later compared to children who had consumed it without any adult comments. College students who were given a cash reward for playing with spatial puzzles stopped their play as soon as they were told the experiment was over (preferring to daydream or read the magazines in a holding room) while college students who had been promised no money at all kept tinkering with them. Preschoolers who were given a ribbon for drawing with Magic Markers showed less interest in drawing with the markers a week later.

Kohn's explanation for these results is that offering a reward makes a person see whatever she's being reward for doing as an obstacle, something to be "over and done with" so that she can move on and get the goodie. Rewards suck the pure enjoyment out of a task and turn it into a chore.

He also makes a convincing argument that using rewards is a vapid shortcut to compliance. If we offer a reward to keep a three-year-old from constantly getting out of bed, he says, then we are seeking compliance without considering WHY the child is doing this. He gives an example of this kind of "WHY" thinking:
"Maybe she's being put to bed too early and simply isn't sleepy yet.
Maybe she feels deprived of quiet time with her parents, and the evening offers the best opportunity for her to cuddle or talk with them.
Maybe she's still wound up from what happened a few hours earlier and needs to rehearse and clarify the day's events to try to make sense of what happened.
Maybe there are monsters under her bed.
Or maybe she can just hear people talking in the living room."

This one passage, I think, is the most valuable part of the book. It's an excellent model of the kind of thinking he hopes will replace our knee-jerk impulse to reward.

More examples like this would have helped answer the question the author says is frequently put to him, that of what to do "instead" of rewarding. He states that there is no one simple alternative to punishments & rewards, and I see what he means. But he still needed to provide more real-life examples for his readers. He needed to tell readers about specific classrooms whose teachers had made commitments to doing away with extrinsic motivation. He needed to tell us how it went for them, how the students reacted, which subjects were taught & learned differently, whose interests or behaviors changed and in what ways, and he needed to include quotes so that we could hear what everyone involved had to say about it. He needed to include vignettes of how parents responded to X situation where most parents would have used bribes. The closest he comes to this is sharing vague quotes from letters he has received from teachers and parents stating that they'd "never go back" to rewards.

What readers need is something concrete to hang onto, something positive to walk away with rather than the negative that most will have absorbed. _Punished by Rewards_ does a good job leaving readers with a prohibition: "DON'T Reward!" But it's a book that desperately needs a Part II: "DO Ask 'Why?' (Here's How!)"(less)

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About Alfie Kohn

Alfie Kohn writes and speaks widely on human behavior, education, and parenting. The author of eleven books and scores of articles, he lectures at education conferences and universities as well as to parent groups and corporations.

Kohn's criticisms of competition and rewards have been widely discussed and debated, and he has been described in Time magazine as "perhaps the country's most outspoken...more

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Books by Alfie Kohn

Unconditional Parenting: Moving from Rewards and Punishments to Love and Reason

The Homework Myth: Why Our Kids Get Too Much of a Bad Thing

The Schools Our Children Deserve: Moving Beyond Traditional Classrooms and "Tougher Standards"

No Contest: The Case Against Competition

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“Some who support [more] coercive strategies assume that children will run wild if they are not controlled. However, the children for whom this is true typically turn out to be those accustomed to being controlled— those who are not trusted, given explanations, encouraged to think for themselves, helped to develop and internalize good values, and so on. Control breeds the need for more control, which is used to justify the use of control.” — 7 people liked it

“People will typically be more enthusiastic where they feel a sense of belonging and see themselves as part of a community than they will in a workplace in which each person is left to his own devices” — 3 people liked it

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title link	preview: Punished by Rewards: The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, A'S, Praise and Other Bribes
avg rating	preview: Punished by Rewards: The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, A'S, Praise and Other Bribes Goodreads rating: 4.15 (974 ratings)
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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/541132.Punished_by_Rewards?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1223663072l/541132.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/541132.Punished_by_Rewards?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Punished by Rewards: The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, A'S, Praise and Other Bribes by Alfie Kohn[/url]

Punished by Rewards: The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, A'S, Praise and Other Bribes

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