You bring up an interesting subject, behavioral response to praise/punishment. First of all, you need to start with defining "better". Who is it better for? The person or the institution? Do people who are praised more than punished truly respond in a "better" fashion?
Take military bootcamp for example; an intense psychological and physical period in which an organization takes an individual and incorporates the individual into the whole. Drill Instructors are not your friends, they are derogatory, insulting, and verbally abusive. They do however dole out small, miniscule bits of praise such as a "good job". The situation created makes people strive harder for that tiny reward than most of the people have ever worked in their lives for material things like paychecks. However, that praise is ONLY made effective because of the punishment that is so generously doled out.
Now, at the end of the experience, the recruits feel accomplished, proud, and many actually thank their drill instuctors. The ultimate in manipulation is when you are able to get a previously resistant person to renounce their prior beliefs, wholely embrace your value system and thank you for doing it.
The recruits, who are now responsive without thinking on their own at all, who are almost mechanical in their operation are now incorporated into the organization.
The entire concept of bootcamp is quite similar to Elan. Essentially, there are individuals who are not conforming to the social standards, and they will be made to conform to that organizations values and belief system.
Now, we get into the area of "Better". It is not productive or time efficent for the military to praise everyone on their remarkable individuality, help them discover their passion, and set them on the path to spiritual enlightenment. So, on the organizational level, it is not "better" to praise the individual, it is inefficent at best, and breeds resentment at worst.
From the individual's perspective, why don't you go ask a United States Marine if deep down they dont wish that their Drill Instructors had coddled them more, told them how wonderful they were and remembered to be more considerate and praise them for their good deeds. Maybe, you could ask them if that sense of discipline had ever saved their lives or being able to deal with the abuse had proved beneficial in other aspects of their life when their was no alternative BUT deal with the situation. Maybe they would tell you that they had a sense of accomplishment that they were able to push themselves through the punishment and be able to grow up and deal with not being praised every time they successfully wiped their ass.
The concept of praise you are talking about works with children, and makes sure they dont turn out to be serial killers and poorly adjusted adults. Obviously however Elan students such as myself, were not responsive to typical social responses like your own and thus more drastic measures were taken by society.
The MORALITY and ethics involved with brainwashing people and attempting to change their world view to fit your own, is an entirely different subject, but perhaps you can bring it up later...
-Greg Melik E-8 2001-2004
