In my case I would say criticism, rather than punishment. It makes me want to think more and do things in a better way, then getting better results. Rewards don't necessarily motivate me, I see them mostly as confirmation.

What do you mean by punishment?

 

I respond better to reward.
If you can make me feel like/think that 1) I have an option and 2) it would be advantageous to me, that would work more effectively than the threat of punishment. (With punishment, if there is a good enough chance I could avoid getting caught, I might risk it if I think it's worthy.)

 

As a general trend without context I pick reward. It's just a better method of reinforcing behavior than punishment. I also like to get out of being punished when I know I should be, which is rewarding.

 

As a general trend without context I pick reward. It's just a better method of reinforcing behavior than punishment. I also like to get out of being punished when I know I should be, which is rewarding.

Yeah, that's another part of it. When you're able to dodge or get out of being punished, that is a gain and a reward in itself. Not that I get a high from cheating the system. The satisfaction comes from not losing.

 

Everyone responds to punishment better, you cant use your reward of a billion dollars if your dead


To hard to answer depends on what the reward and punishment is everyone has their own set sliding scale.

 

Everyone responds to punishment better, you cant use your reward of a billion dollars if your dead

To hard to answer depends on what the reward and punishment is everyone has their own set sliding scale.

Scientifically, you're wrong. Operant conditioning experiments have suggested that subjects, both animals and humans, most readily perform desired behaviors if they receive positive reinforcement (in layman's terms, a reward). Punishments aren't nearly as effective, as subjects will merely attempt to dodge the penalty.

Nonetheless, your second sentence is correct. If you give someone a death threat, you'll get an Oslo effect.

 

...It depends on the reward or the punishment, and what i'm being motivated to do. i don't know, it's very hard to motivate me to do something i don't want to do.

 

If I know I've done something wrong, then I deserve punishment, but if I'm doing something wrong and don't know it, I'd rather you just tell me.

 

This thread reminds me of the joke between the masochist and the sadist.

Masochist: Hit me.

Sadist: No.

I suppose I prefer reward in the abstract but I value both in concrete reality. If the punishment is really a consequence to an error I made, then maybe I can learn from it. If the reward doesn't teach me anything and is superficial, then maybe it doesn't have that much value to my growth as a human.

I always evolved more as a person from suffering defeats and going on to win later on than winning right away. Defeat can make me sad, but I examine what I did wrong, how I can do better, why I did what I did, and so on. My scrutiny over my errors is heightened, whereas my examination over my wins is less. But a reward, such as positive encouragement from a friend or finishing a goal can keep me excited, motivated, inspired. But I still value the process of doing more than the honors I receive. Feynman had always thought that it was more important to discover, to seek an answer to a question you were uncertain about than to get the answer in the back of the book. I like that mentality, because the process is the reward in itself, and sometimes, honors can distract from the accomplishment of finding things out.

 

Punishment, if anything.

 

If I'm a masochist, is it a punishment or a reward?

 

Reward, if I had to choose. I prefer to put effort in and get something out of it, besides just being where I started again.

 

An interesting question, @Ista. My experience is that there are very few who understand how to reward me. So, while I much prefer poorly constructed strokes over abject punishment, I would say that the success rate of the former is so marginal that I prefer to give it to myself. Mental masturbation kicks ass.

Example: I recently had to compose a presentation that I'll be giving soon. I've know about it for a couple months. I waited until 3 hours before it was due to be reviewed by the powers that be to begin writing it. Knocked that shit out. "Wow, this is great, I really like what you did here." Haha. Mmm...*pats self on back* Ahhhh...procrastination...it feels so good.

 

If I have to choose then I'd say reward, but I'm hardly one to jump through hoops for a prize of any nature.

 

Reward, punishment is likely to just make me rebellious and and angry.

 

Punish, because loss aversion.

 

When I was 3, my mom made me choose between eating peas or going to bed. And I chose bed every time.
So, reward?

 

When I was 3, my mom made me choose between eating peas or going to bed. And I chose bed every time.
So, reward?

Your story is cute. I'd have grabbed the plate and carried it off to my room. I'd make her think I ate them and then she'd find I "pea'd my bed" as I have absolutely terrible, cheesy humor. I'd laugh and giggle the whole time she spanked me. Forget trying that "time out" shit. Words from a person I cared about hurt me more sharply and I was only receptive to them because they weren't unnecessarily controlling.

My bonded INTP-folk worked best from recognition of doing well (where they KNEW they did well and were doing well) and praise. "Punishment" was just toxic, they worked best from encouragement. I actually work rather well from punishment as it makes me angry and just adds to the passion to work harder and was more like a fuel than a detriment, at least in the past. At this state in life, if you knock me out of calm I'm just going to stop talking to you period. I don't have the mental health.

 

I prefer reward, but a threat of punishment (such as failing a course) really gets me working. I voted punishment purely because it elicits the strongest response from me, but if someone kept nagging at me about what would happen if I didn't do something, I might not do it because they got on my nerves. Reward does work in a way, such as writing when I imagine what it would be like being published for real, but it's not so effective for things like essays.

 

Reward, becuase if I'm threatened with punishment I am probably going to be punished...
Agree with @TheProcrastinatingMaster

 

Reward, absolutely.

Punishment fills me with hate for any activity, and makes me see, in fine detail, everything that renders the whole thing invalid and stupid.

I agree that criticism is better. But even then, if I'm being criticised by an idiot who doesn't even know what they're saying, I'll reduce it down to typical hatred, apathy and cynicism for whatever it is that I'm doing.

EDIT: only if the idiot criticising me is a boss, so I have to change and do it 'their way'. If I have complete control over what I'm doing, I'd probably just tell the person exactly why they're wrong.

 

If someone wants me to do something and the consequence is punishment I'll just resent them.
I hate people who try and control me.

If my gf wanted me to do something and the reward was something kinky, she'd get her wish.

I question those INTPs who are more motivated by punishment status as an INTP, unless it's something internal.
;D

 

For me, reward is much better than punishment for motivation. It gets you much farther than having me put in a lot of effort and then when I mess up and punish me. It makes me not even want to try in the first place. Though, some constructive criticism can definitely help at times as well.

 

Rewards motivate you to succeed further, punishments only motivate you not to fail. Focus on the carrot, but keep the stick handy for when the carrot stops working.

 

When I think of times when I have needed corrective stimulants to get me back on a good path, rewards have been more influential. But punishment also establishes a bedrock that may keep me from going too low when my mental status is not good.

But this discussion depresses me, since it seems as though we are all affected by these petty forces. Why can't everyone just do the right thing?