Social Reinforcement of the Work Behavior of Retarded and Nonretarded Persons

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the social stimulation as a reinforcer for working behavior, both in persons exhibiting general mental retardation and, to a lesser extent, in nonretarded persons acquiring mathematical skills. The chapter explores the possibilities of a particular range of techniques to help such groups achieve required goals. There is little difference in the way in which retarded and nonretarded subjects respond to social reinforcement. The chapter presents a demonstration of the broad generality of the effectiveness of social reinforcement. Social reinforcement may operate partly by alleviating feelings of anxiety and incompetence brought about by past failure experiences in working situations. Warm reinforcement seems to be more effective in encouraging output with retarded subjects. Vicarious reinforcement appears to be an efficient method of controlling behavior in a working group.