Reward for wrongdoing: Changing motivational tactics to influence human behaviour

Abstract

There has always been a cordial relationship between human beings and nature. Whereas humans’ treat nature with respect and approached the earth with responsible behavior, the earth reciprocated the gesture with the abundant provision of all human needs. However, this relationship has been marred mainly because of human activities. The level of irresponsibility in terms of pollutants and blatant disregard for common precautionary measures in the handling of the gifts nature has given human beings has led to a host of catastrophes the inhabitants of the earth must endure. Although there has been several campaigns and advocacies all over the world to guide human behavior to stop polluting the environment, these pleas seem to have fallen on deaf ears. Hence the time has come to implement some radical educational campaigns to guide people to respond responsibly to end or lessen the degradation of the earth. This paper by the use of the Cognitive Evaluation Theory proposes that wrongdoing should be extrinsically awarded with the plan to gradually take away the award remuneration which will lead to the removal of former intrinsic motivation to do the wrong things and eventually win the war on man-made pollution of this planet.