When a stick seems to work better than a carrot

[Nik]

A friend returning from a short business trip to Singapore, excitedly tells how clean this island is. Once, he says, it was probably the dirtiest place on Earth, but steep fines changed the scene completely:
https://www.theguardian.com/cities/20...
Dropping a cigarette butt or a gum at the street can be on par with shopping in the most expensive boutique.
The same fine system seems to work for Calgary too.
Conscience alone may be not sufficient. Stick seems to educate better.

What do you think?

[Graeme]

How to generate social conformity in descending order of effectiveness.

[1] Belief

[2] Desire

[3] Fear

Systems to instill, and maintain behavioural conformity within a society can rely on any of the above, both singularly and in concert. The most effective systems use all three in a mesh to provide a motivated architecture of socially acceptable and approved choices.

[Nik]

Good breakdown of motivational mechanisms!

[[deleted user]]

In this context, North Korea is probably the worst user of motivational mechanisms: it only uses fear!

[Ian]

One of my memories of Singapore at the beginning of 1969 was seeing a flat-bed truck with a number of "litterers" driving out towards the outskirts for compulsory "clean-up" work. They were chained to the deck, so if they fell off, well, that was sort of tough. I gather they drove around in public view to remind people of what would happen if they violated.

[Nik]

Yeah, talking about cruel and unusual punishment...

[Nik]

Stick or carrot: what works better?

[G.R.]

Obviously the stick. But if you changed the carrot to chocolate...

[Scout]

:-)

[Scout]

I asked the question in another thread about why some people commit crimes and some don't. If I'm ever tempted, I think about the stick.

[Lizzie]

A balance of both works best. Think about children. Reward for positive behavior; fear of consequences for negative behavior.

I think money was left off as a motivator. It certainly worked in Northern California of getting people to bring their own bags or pay a fee. We are not willing to give up our dimes for a bag - it annoys us on some gut level.

They also drive the speed limit there, which I found particularly annoying. I suspect I won't do so until the financial consequences are enough to force me to do so. The possibility of the stick isn't enough to stop me from speeding.

[Scout]

Speedy Lizzie :-) What you say makes sense.