Table 1. Reward and Threat Responses in the SCARF Model
Five Domains of Human Social Experience (Drivers of Our Behavior) |
How We Activate the Reward State in Others |
Results of Reward State |
How We Activate a Threat State in Others |
Consequences of Threat State |
---|---|---|---|---|
Status: sense of our personal worth—where we are in relation to other people |
Positive feedback, public acknowledgement, allow staff to provide feedback to themselves in performance reviews |
|
Critique, unsolicited advice |
|
Certainty: sense of what the future holds for us |
Clear expectations, setting clear goals, realistic project schedules |
Lack of transparency, dishonesty, unpredictability |
||
Autonomy: sense of control over our lives |
Providing choices, delegation, self-responsibility, empowerment |
Micromanagement, constant authoritative leadership |
||
Relatedness: sense of safety with others |
Friendly gestures, foster socializing, mentoring programs |
Fostering internal competition, prohibiting socializing in the workplace |
||
Fairness: sense of what is impartial and just |
Transparent decisions, open communication, candidness, clear rules |
Unequal treatment, unclear rules and guidelines, lack of communication |
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