Changing negative behavior/THE HAWTHORNE EFFECT

The "Hawthorne Effect" is a term used to describe the tendency of subjects in experiments to increase sought-after behavior or decrease negative behavior, simply beacause they are being studied. It was first observed among the meploes at the Hawthorned Plant who were being studied by researchers from Harvard Business School. The researchers were studying worker productivitiy. But they encountered a problem. When the researchers gave attention to the employees, the workers' productivity didn't remain static, it increased. This change in productivity was produced simply by an awareness that they were being studeied, and it skewed the study.

Obviously, the Hawthorne Effect drives researchers crazy, but for those who wish to change behavior it is quite encouraging. It means that all I have to do to increase the frequency of a desired behavior or decrease the frequency of a negative behavior is to notice it! Just my awareness of it will change the results...

For instance, if a mother is concerned about how often she speacks in habitualy negative language to her children, she can decide to count all the negative statements she makes. Without any apparent self-discipline, as she becomes aware of how many times a day she responds to child negatively, she will instinctively improve. Being aware enough to count and report our experiences is a dynamic and positive process.

[One method of doing this is to] fill one pocket with pennies at the beginning of the day. Each time [a mother] responds with positive language to her children rather than negative language, she takes one penny and transfers it to the other pocket. At the end of the day, she writes down the number of pennies in the second pocket. I have done this to self-monitor all sorts of behaviors, and the Hawthorne Effect always holds true. As I continue to count and record, the positive behaviors increase and the negative behaviors decrease.

(Virginia Pearce, A Heart Like His, pg. 88-91)