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Q: Concept of "positive reinforcement" in Chinese culture?
I've been thinking about this kind of stuff a lot lately (see my "saying thank you" question).
I am asking this totally acknowledging that I'm probably a dumb expat, ignorant of the intricacies of local culture.... but does China have no concept of positive reinforcement?
-I'm rarely complimented on a "job well done", I don't think I've ever seen a Chinese colleague complimented.
-There's tons of pressure on kids to succeed (from what I've heard second-hand)
-I guess praise is heaped on national icons and the like?
Anyways, there just seems to be a lot of negative reinforcement floating about; "do this or else it will have XYZ consequences". Is this true though? Is there positive reinforcement out there and we just don't see/understand it? Or is it, in fact, nonexistent in China?
Any insights from Chinese or foreign folks is much appreciated!
Positive reinforcement does happen in China, people do say thank you etc. But the prevailing method is to punish unwanted behavior.
Positive reinforcement is alive and well in China, just not to some of the mad levels we have in the west where (in the words of George Carlin) a running race in school no longer has a loser, just 'the last winner.' YACH! The Chinese do seem to be pretty straight with their opinions and aren't overly prone to sugar-coating................unless of course they're selling something that is. Personally I don't think i've ever had any undeserved praise from any of my bosses over the years. My first boss never said anything remotely close to positive reinforcement, constructive criticism or otherwise, though I do remember him smiling once as he told me I smelled of beer. Not really the same, I guess.
