Carrot and stick

Carrot and stick is an idiom that describes a form of influence to other persons or organizations. Translated, the mean, for example: "Obey me and I will do thee good; Do you oppose me, you evil will befall. " the decisive moment is that the manipulative influence was for tactical reasons in both pleasant as well as unpleasant manner for the person concerned. The content emphasis of the method is on the and.

1930 Kurt Tucholsky wrote under his pseudonym Theobald Tiger a poem with this title in the world stage.

Origin

In the production of sugar from sugar cane, the sugar solution ( bagasse ) is " cooked " by heat. In the pot at the bottom with the highest temperature, which causes the sugar to caramelize developed. This caramelized sugar lumps called carrot. This carrot was often given to slaves ( as a reward ), which had to do the work in the sugar factory. The slaves were thus rewarded with carrot and punished with the whip.

The Sugar Loaf in Rio de Janeiro is, in literal translation carrot. Brazil is the largest producer of cane sugar.

Background

Every physical and mental process triggers emotions. It's a winning formula of evolution, is possible to behave and to do everything in order to experience positive emotions and avoid negative. Therefore, negative feelings dissolve often from defensive reactions such as defiance. The carrot - and - stick method now is to trigger targeted both positive feelings (eg, praise ) for desired behavior and negative feelings ( blame ) for undesired behavior.

Importance in leadership behavior

As a form of leadership and feedback combination is more effective than just praise ( partnership style), indifference ( laissez- faire ) or only rebuke ( authoritarian style). Carrot and stick can affect as a special case in the form of a "double- bind" disorder.

Bismarck's policy

The phrase " carrot and stick " is often mentioned in connection with Bismarck's policy of the 19th century, which was a response to the stormy industrialization. Bismarck introduced throughout the German Reich a social legislation, which included a health, accident, disability and old-age insurance. The political function of the initiated by Bismarck social legislation was to make the working masses of the Social Democrats alienated. Bismarck's strategy, on the one hand, the socialist movement to suppress ( by the " whip " of the Anti-Socialist Laws ) and at the same time ( by the " carrot" of social policy ) to be integrated into the monarchical authoritarian authoritarian state, however, proved to be only partially successful.

Criticism

In order to create a confidential relationship producing negative emotions is fundamentally unsuitable. Thus, the whip is usually represent a threat that is rarely actually used. From many people's carrot - and - stick method is therefore rejected. Threats can lead to anxiety, fear, and mistrust or remain ineffective as empty threats.