What's an example of when positive reinforcement suppresses critical thinking?

Answer 1

I think the classic example would be the "yes-man" at work. The person who is rewarded for agreeing with the boss, no matter what. No need for critical thinking if you just go along with the powers that be. And if you have a boss that just wants to have his / her ego stroked you'll go far!

Answer 2

Scenario:
An art critic considers the work of Gregory Colbert a little too much into the visual effects and the form rather than the content(critical thinking); on the other hand, a collectionist buys several of his photographic pieces of art either as way of enhancing his contact with mother nature or as a form of investment but has no clue of the meaning of the work (positive reinforcement).

Answer 3

When the prison guards dictate every move an inmate makes. When the government and the police force combine to force an entire society to abide by their rules, or else. When a mother dictates to her son until he's 35, and bails him out of any trouble, and makes all his decisions for him.

We are here to learn through making mistakes, and since the beginning of insurance, that doesn't happen often enough anymore. This stops the learning process, and therefore stops our progression. Something will have to give. It's just a matter of WHEN.

Answer 4

This will happen if you reward someone when they don't question what they see before them, when they take things at face value. An example would be a boss who excessively promotes people in a company who kiss his butt rather than challenge ideas and thinking.

Answer 5

Churches, positive groups, etc.

Answer 6

Political rallies. Church.