Grandma's Law
David Premack, a psychologist, discovered in his research tha when people are given a choice of things to do, whatever they consistently choose can be used as a reinforcer for the behaviours not chosen. His discovery is called the Premack Priciple. This has been more simply translated by Ogden Lindsley, who calls this principle as 'Grandma's Law".
Grandma's law states "If you eat your vegetables, you can have your dessert." Eating vegetables is a low frequency choice for most children. Eating dessert is a high frequency choice.. When the high frequency choice is made contingent on the low frequency choice, children not only eat more vegetables, but learn over time to like them.
At work this means that if we watch how people spend their time when they have a choice, we can identify reinforcers for them. If a mechanic swpends most of his unassigned time repairing electric motors instead of doing something else, we can assume that repairing electric motors is a reinforcer to that mechanic. When given a choice of leads, a salesperson always chooses to call on large companies rather than small ones. That would tell us that the opportunity to call on large client could be used as a reinforcer for that salesperson.
Grandma's law has some personal application too. In fact, it represents the best time management technique. Make a list of all things you need to do. Rank them from things you most want to do or enjoy doing to the things you least like to do. Then start working at the bottom of the list.
If you do this you will notice an interesting phenomena as you complete tasks. When you start at the bottom, every time you finish a task, the next one on the list is more desirable, enjoyable, or interesting. if you start at the top, where most peoiple start, the consequence of completing a task is that the next one is more undesirable, difficult, boring etc. In the latter approach, you look for an execuse to quit. In the former, you do'nt want to quit until all the tasks are done, and if you stop in the middle, you ca'nt wait to get started again.
Reproduced from "Bringing out the Best in People" by Aubrey C Daniels
This works. I have tried this on many occasions. And the well known book Whaledone also reiterates this principle
Siva
From India, Chennai
368David Premack, a psychologist, discovered in his research tha when people are given a choice of things to do, whatever they consistently choose can be used as a reinforcer for the behaviours not chosen. His discovery is called the Premack Priciple. This has been more simply translated by Ogden Lindsley, who calls this principle as 'Grandma's Law".
Grandma's law states "If you eat your vegetables, you can have your dessert." Eating vegetables is a low frequency choice for most children. Eating dessert is a high frequency choice.. When the high frequency choice is made contingent on the low frequency choice, children not only eat more vegetables, but learn over time to like them.
At work this means that if we watch how people spend their time when they have a choice, we can identify reinforcers for them. If a mechanic swpends most of his unassigned time repairing electric motors instead of doing something else, we can assume that repairing electric motors is a reinforcer to that mechanic. When given a choice of leads, a salesperson always chooses to call on large companies rather than small ones. That would tell us that the opportunity to call on large client could be used as a reinforcer for that salesperson.
Grandma's law has some personal application too. In fact, it represents the best time management technique. Make a list of all things you need to do. Rank them from things you most want to do or enjoy doing to the things you least like to do. Then start working at the bottom of the list.
If you do this you will notice an interesting phenomena as you complete tasks. When you start at the bottom, every time you finish a task, the next one on the list is more desirable, enjoyable, or interesting. if you start at the top, where most peoiple start, the consequence of completing a task is that the next one is more undesirable, difficult, boring etc. In the latter approach, you look for an execuse to quit. In the former, you do'nt want to quit until all the tasks are done, and if you stop in the middle, you ca'nt wait to get started again.
Reproduced from "Bringing out the Best in People" by Aubrey C Daniels
This works. I have tried this on many occasions. And the well known book Whaledone also reiterates this principle
Siva
From India, Chennai
:( :( :( :( :( Only three views!! and no response!! I know it is lengthy reading but still worth reading :lol: :lol: :lol: Siva
From India, Chennai
From India, Chennai
Hi, The Premack principle is well known by each management student. You have given some practical examples. That makes your post unique. Well done. Regards jayram.
From India, Bhubaneswar
From India, Bhubaneswar
hi sivasankaran..
very nice article.. thanks for posting... it is the power of positive reinforcement... it is a very good technique to award a good work... to motivate ppl to perform to the fullest of their potential...
sowmini...
From India, Madras
very nice article.. thanks for posting... it is the power of positive reinforcement... it is a very good technique to award a good work... to motivate ppl to perform to the fullest of their potential...
sowmini...
From India, Madras
the articles grandmas principle was very very inforamtive. though sunderjayram sir is already sure that this principle has to be known by every managment student, so the degree of appriciating your posting increases beause you made me acquanited to this principle.
so thank you very much for sharing siva sir.
regards
pinkii
From India, New Delhi
so thank you very much for sharing siva sir.
regards
pinkii
From India, New Delhi
Hi,
Its nice mantra for people who are unwilling to change for better.. I am talking in terms of an organization change .. also it can bring about a change in org. culture for betterment..
Regards,
Roopa
From India, Bangalore
Its nice mantra for people who are unwilling to change for better.. I am talking in terms of an organization change .. also it can bring about a change in org. culture for betterment..
Regards,
Roopa
From India, Bangalore
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