Third Rock

Third Rock Assignment

1. Reinforcement Theory
In this episode, Dick is having dinner in a restaurant with Mary and attempts to understand the process of tipping. Mary explains to Dick that the money used for tipping is for rewarding the waitress for the service. According to the Reinforcement Theory, if the consequences following the waitress’ service are favorable, she is more likely to demonstrate similar behaviors in the future. But, if the customers do not tip the waitress, she is less likely to demonstrate similar behaviors in the future. Later, Dick and Mary go back to the same restaurant, but this time, Dick initiates a different approach for tipping. He tells the waitress at the beginning that her tips (reward) will change during the dinner time: he will add money to the tips if he is satisfied with her service (positive reinforcement), but he will take some money off the pile as soon as he is dissatisfied (punishment). This is his way of motivating the waitress to provide with an excellent service. By decreasing the tips, Dick tries to reduce the frequency of undesirable behaviors from the waitress. Punishment involves presenting negative consequences following unwanted behaviors, for instance, serving a drink to the wrong customer.

2. Expectancy Theory
Dick expects a certain level of service to give the waitress a tip. At the same time the waitress is expecting a tip. Dick expects that the level of service at the restaurant be better than just good and while expecting this he thinks that the waitress does not expect a tip for the service being performed because she is already being paid through the bill. Dick expects that the service be exceptional despite the fact that the waiter is expecting a tip regardless of the service. He also expects that they would not do anything to their food in the process.

3. Goal Setting Theory
The Goal-Setting Theory is applicable in this video because both patrons in the matter (Dick and the Waitress) have set goals for the outcome of the meal. Dick’s goal is to receive exceptional service from his waitress; where-as the waitress’ goal is to receive a good tip from Dick. Should both parties fulfill their goals, everyone will be happy. Dick makes his goal relevant to the waitress by setting his money on the table and stating that “the pile [of money] will grow when i am pleased”. He also confirms with the waitress that she is in fact expecting a tip from him and she replies, “yes” which illustrates what her goal actually is, to make money. I think both the waitress and dick could benefit from using SMART goals because that would help them both achieve the most satisfaction of their own goals while helping the other out with theirs. In other words, if Dick makes his goal of satisfaction more achievable, in turn he will tip the waitress more and help her achieve her goal.

Equity Theory-
We believe that the reason Mary and Dick’s drinks taste funny is a result of the Equity theory. As stated in this theory, people are motivated by a sense of fairness and will respond negative if they are treated unfairly, or positively if they are treated fairly. In this instance, the waitress felt that she was treated unfairly by Dick’s method of tipping and therefore responded negatively by making their drinks taste funny. As a solution, Dick should have treated the waitress with more respect and in turn he would have had a better tasting drink.