Consequence

“Life's full o' consequence /… who's scared of consequence / Let's sip the honey while it's sweet.”

 

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AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ….

 

Monkey Experiment Proves Corporate Policy Process

Start with a cage containing five monkeys. Inside the cage, hang a banana on a string and place a set of stairs under it. Before long, a monkey will go to the stairs and start to climb towards the banana. As soon as he touches the stairs, spray all of the other monkeys with cold water. After a while, another monkey makes an attempt with the same result, and all the other monkeys are sprayed with cold water. Pretty soon the monkeys will try to prevent it.

Now, put away the cold water. Remove one monkey from the cage and replace it with a new one. The new monkey sees the banana and wants to climb the stairs. To his surprise and horror, all of the other monkeys attack him. After another attempt and attack, he knows that if he tries to climb the stairs, he will be assaulted.

Next, remove another of the original five monkeys and replace it with a new one. The newcomer goes to the stairs and is attacked. The previous newcomer takes part in the punishment with enthusiasm! Likewise, replace a third original monkey with a new one, then a fourth, then the fifth.

Every time the newest monkey takes to the stairs, he is attacked. Most of the monkeys that are beating him have no idea why they were not permitted to climb the stairs or why they are participating in the beating of the newest monkey. After replacing all the original monkeys, none of the remaining monkeys have ever been sprayed with cold water. Nevertheless, no monkey ever again approaches the stairs to try for the banana. Why not? Because as far as they know that’s the way it’s always been done around here.

And that, my friends, is how a company policy begins.

(http://dropsafe.crypticide.com/article/1928)

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Where is all of this going? 

 

Behavior modification involves rewards and consequences.   However, in the end, it all amounts to conditioning.  I don’t know if rewards ever worked with me, not that anyone was ever offering one.  Half of the time, I am not thinking of the possibility of a consequence when doing something; the other half of the time, I don’t seem to care.  After all, I was not shocked when I wound up fired, because I knew what I did.  19 times out of 20, I will risk a consequence to gain gratification, instant or delayed.  I will often try and find a workaround to avoid the consequence and still get what I want.    

 

The threat of a consequence is very empty indeed when I am the one holding it over my head.  And not many others hold one over me. 

 

At this point, I really don’t know what to do with me. 

 

Oh, and I haven’t gotten a lot done this morning.  I’m here, there and everywhere, however not where I should be.