Reward influence is best described as?

• A. Threatening sanctions for noncompliance
• B. Providing incentives for individuals who act and obey the rules
• C. Increasing surveillance to monitor behavior
• D. Publicly shaming noncompliant students

Answer: (B)

Reward influence is about using positive reinforcement to shape behavior. When you provide incentives for acting and obeying the rules, you create a valued consequence that increases the likelihood students will repeat that behavior. This is the idea behind positive reinforcement: the presence of a desirable reward strengthens the behavior that preceded it. For example, offering praise, tokens, privileges, or extra activity time for meeting expectations helps students connect good behavior with a rewarding outcome, encouraging them to continue.

The other approaches rely on punishment, deterrence, or social pressure rather than encouraging the desired action. Threatening sanctions, increasing surveillance, or publicly shaming students can suppress behavior in the short term but don’t build motivation to act positively in the long run and may damage trust or self-esteem.