Grandma's Law
David Premack, a psychologist, discovered in his research that when people are given a choice of things to do, whatever they consistently choose can be used as a reinforcer for the behaviors not chosen. His discovery is called the Premack Principle. This has been more simply translated by Ogden Lindsley, who calls this principle "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, while 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 also 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 spends most of his unassigned time repairing electric motors instead of doing something else, we can assume that repairing electric motors is a reinforcer for 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 clients 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 the 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 phenomenon 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 people 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 excuse to quit. In the former, you don't want to quit until all the tasks are done, and if you stop in the middle, you can't 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 "Whale Done" also reiterates this principle.
Siva
From India, Chennai
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379David Premack, a psychologist, discovered in his research that when people are given a choice of things to do, whatever they consistently choose can be used as a reinforcer for the behaviors not chosen. His discovery is called the Premack Principle. This has been more simply translated by Ogden Lindsley, who calls this principle "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, while 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 also 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 spends most of his unassigned time repairing electric motors instead of doing something else, we can assume that repairing electric motors is a reinforcer for 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 clients 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 the 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 phenomenon 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 people 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 excuse to quit. In the former, you don't want to quit until all the tasks are done, and if you stop in the middle, you can't 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 "Whale Done" also reiterates this principle.
Siva
From India, Chennai
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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
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From India, Bhubaneswar
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The article's Grandma's principle was very informative. Though Sunder Jayram Sir is already sure that this principle has to be known by every management student, so the degree of appreciating your posting increases because you made me acquainted with this principle. Thank you very much for sharing, Siva Sir.
Regards, Pinkii
From India, New Delhi
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Regards, Pinkii
From India, New Delhi
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