THE DISCIPLINARY EXPERIENCE AND ITS EFFECTS ON BEHAVIOR - AN EXPLORATORY-STUDY

Using the results obtained from a small-scale, exploratory study of th e internal dynamics of the disciplinary process, two issues are addres sed: whether the disciplinary experience results in the disciplined pe rson's internalising and/or observing an organisational rule; and the extent to which this is affected by the way the disciplinary process i s handled. It is tentatively concluded that discipline can achieve the outcome of rule internalisation and/or observation, but it does so fo r only about. half of those formally disciplined; for the remaining ha lf, there are ongoing tendencies towards rule breaking. Explanations f or this state of affairs are located in two important features of the internal dynamics of disciplinary handling. The first is the implicit use of a 'conditioning by punishment' paradigm, which is applied withi n a context where punishing stimuli are largely ineffective in shaping behaviour. The second, which flows from the first, consists of manage rial styles that often create an impression in the eyes of the discipl ined person that retributional motives are at work.