Stroking

In “The Fast Food Nation” written by Eric Schlosser, he discusses the meaning of “stroking”. In chapter 3 he writes “stroking, a form of positive reinforcement, deliberate praise, and recognition that many teenagers don’t get at home. Stroking can make a worker feel that his or her contribution is sincerely valued.” That’s a way to make an employee happy, without spending money and a way to create a “team spirit”. The effect of ”team spirit” includes, arrive on time, work hard, and feel good.

At a later point in chapter 4, we see the same strategy of “stroking” coming up, in Peter Lowe’s “success seminar”.  He focuses on the managers, franchisees, and salespersons. He motivates the people by giving them confidents. It’s a psychology way to push and motivate people. At the end of this chapter one of the speeches’ comes from Christopher Reeve. He was an actor in the 80’s. When he comes on stage, he says, “I see people who achieve these conventional goals. None of it matters.” Basically means that the goal of these people is not what really counts in live.