Attitudes, labeling bias, and behavior modification in work organizations

Barling, Julian; Wainstein, Trevor

doi:10.1016/s0005-7894(79)80016-7

Cited by 7 publications

(6 citation statements)

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“…The Follower Label Labels serve an important function and yield powerful consequences: Labels facilitate sense-making and guide our interactions by providing cues for how to organize and understand experiences. For example, the label ''humanistic'' increased the acceptability of an intervention in comparison to the label ''behavior modification'' (Barling & Wainstein, 1979). Not only do labels help us organize and interpret information, but affect (i.e., how much an individual likes those to whom the label is attributed) is also attached to labels, thus connoting our likes and dislikes.…”

Section: Conceptual Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Christie

Barling

2012

Zeitschrift für Psychologie

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Although the importance of followership has been discussed in organizational literature, negative connotations attached to the follower label persist, including followers’ lack of ability and power. In two studies, we found evidence for negative effects of the follower label. Participants who were labeled a follower (Study 1), or self-labeled as followers in their jobs (Study 2), reported lower positive affect, and in turn, fewer extra-role behaviors. These findings suggest that followers might be at risk for reinforcing their negative stereotypes by avoiding opportunities to show their abilities and demonstrate their independence. Recommendations for leaders and opportunities for future research are discussed.

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Section: Conceptual Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Christie

Barling

2012

Zeitschrift für Psychologie

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“…Woolfolk et al, (1977) could not assess this possibility because of their single-factor experimental design. The results of Barling and Wainstein's (1979) study, however, suggests that Woolfolk et al's (1977) results may have been dependent on prior attitudes towards behaviour modification. In addition, the possibility exists that the results obtained in both these studies may have been a function of the fact that behaviour modification techniques were described using terminology typically associated with fears about the control of behaviour (Bandura 1975).…”

Section: Biases Against Behaviour Modificationmentioning

confidence: 56%

“…In a constructive replication of this study, Barling and Wainstein (1979) assessed attitudes towards behaviour modification in the industrial and organizational setting. On the basis of a median split two groups were formed, comprising those who favoured and those who disagreed with the use of behaviour modification in work organizations.…”

Section: Biases Against Behaviour Modificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Indeed, Willis and Giles (1978) refer to the use of what they call an 'unnecessarily offensive terminology ' (p. 15). This is important, since it has been shown that the manner in which the particular programme is presented (that is, the nature of the jargon) may be a substantial influence on its subsequent acceptance (Barling & Wainstein 1979;Woolfolk, Woolfolk & Wilson 1977). Indeed, Dorr (1977) and Reppucci and Saunders (1974) have documented that when a programme is presented in highly mechanistic, behaviour modification-type jargon, the chances of it being implemented are reduced.…”

Section: A Model Of Manmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Image of Behaviour Modification: A Critical Analysis

Barling

1979

South African Journal of Psychology

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Behaviour modification has not been favourably received either in the lay or professional communities, and this article examines critically some of the factors which may predispose a negative attitude to the use of behaviour modification techniques. Specifically, the apprehension regarding behavioural control, the conception of a deterministic/mechanistic model of man, .the presentation of behaviour modification programmes, the increasing specialization and isolation within behaviour modification, and finally, misconceptions and misinformation regarding behaviour modification are identified as five principal determinants of a negative bias against behaviour modification. Finally, it is suggested that adherence to a social learning theory paradigm, together with an increased concentration on the self-regu/ation of behaviour might facilitate a more positive attitude towards, and greater acceptance of, behaviour modification techniques in general.S. Afr. J. Psychol., 1979, 9: 98 -103 Die idee van gedragsmodifikasie het nog in lekekringe nog in professionele kringe gunstige reaksie uitgelok. In hierdie artikel word sommige van die faktore wat kan bydra tot die negatiewe reaksie op gedragsmodifikasietegnieke, krities ondersoek. Daar word meer spesifiek gefokus op die volgende vyf faktore wat 'n negatiewe vooroordeel ten opsigte van gedragsmodifikasie skep, naamlik: die kommer oor gedragskontrole; die idee van 'n deterministies-meganistiese mensmodel; die aanbieding van gedragsmodifikasieprogramme; toenemende spesialisasie en isolasie binne die terrein van gedragsmodifikasie en wanopvattinge en oningeligtheid met betrekking tot gedragsmodifikasie. Daar word aan die hand gedoen dat die navolging van die sosiale leerteoretiese paradigma, tesame met 'n daadwerklike beklemtoning van die self-regu/ering van gedrag, daartoe kan bydra dat 'n meer positiewe houding teenoor en 'n groter aanvaarding van gedragsmodifikasietegnieke kan ontwikkel.

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“…In education and nontherapeutic situations such as work settings, technical jargon also impacts the degree to which descriptions are preferred. For example, methods and leadership characteristics in a video of a performance appraisal interview tended to be preferred when described as involving humanistic rather than behavioral techniques (Barling & Wainstein, 1979). Teachers prefer pragmatic rather than humanistic or behavioral descriptions of pedagogical techniques, and this preference is enhanced when techniques are applied to relatively more severe cases and when the teachers evaluating the techniques are relatively inexperienced (Witt, Moe, Gutkin, & Andrews, 1984).…”

Section: Differential Listener Effects As a Function Of The Audiencementioning

confidence: 99%

Vernacular Selection: What to Say and When to Say It

Neuman

2018

Analysis Verbal Behav

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The language of behavior analysis is precise in the sense that it focuses attention on functional relations between behavior and the environment that are extended in time. However, to non-behavior analysts, behavior-analytic terms and explanations are difficult to understand and awkward sounding. Evidence suggests that this has had deleterious effects on the acceptance of the field of behavior analysis and its explanations of behavior. The goal of this article is to assert that verbal behavior that describes behavior is functionally related to subsequent explanatory verbal behavior. In addition, it is argued that technical language is not a requirement of precision and logical formulation. Suggestions are made regarding how behavior analysts can generate evidence to better understand explanatory preferences of individuals with various amounts of exposure to behavior analysis. In addition, methods are suggested for introducing behavior analysis to others with vernacular descriptions of behavior and its causes that do not obscure critical distinctions by introducing mental/mediational explanations.

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Attitudes, labeling bias, and behavior modification in work organizations

Cited by 7 publications

References 16 publications

Submitting to the Follower Label

Submitting to the Follower Label

Image of Behaviour Modification: A Critical Analysis

Vernacular Selection: What to Say and When to Say It

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