Have You Experienced This?
Have you ever noticed that when your teacher assigns a task, you spend time thinking it through, trying your best to get the perfect answer?
Or maybe at a party, when you know you’ll be performing in front of a group, you push yourself to show off your best side.
It’s not a coincidence.
We all tend to act differently when we know others are watching us.
Without even realizing it, we adjust what we do and say, wanting to perform at our best.
What Is the Hawthorne Effect?
Psychologists call this phenomenon the Hawthorne Effect.
The Hawthorne Effect describes how people’s behavior changes when they know they’re being observed.
This concept comes from real experiments in the 1920s at Western Electric’s Hawthorne Works, a factory in the US.
Researchers wanted to understand how working conditions affected productivity.
They adjusted things like lighting and break times, but surprisingly, these changes had less impact than expected.
What really improved worker productivity?
It was the very fact that the workers knew they were being studied and noticed by management.
When people feel paid attention to and valued, they become more enthusiastic and efficient at what they do.
The Hawthorne Effect isn’t just something that happens in factories or labs—it’s part of everyday life:
- When we prepare for a speech or performance in front of an audience
- When presenting results at work or in class
- When we know the spotlight is on us—
That awareness makes us want to rise to the occasion, prepare better, and give our best.
How to Use the Hawthorne Effect to Create Real Change
1. Increase a Sense of Attention—Give More Praise
The reason people are motivated to monitor and improve themselves is because they feel noticed by others.
If you want someone to change, put more attention on them—take them seriously and show that they matter.
For example, if you want your child to develop better study habits, pay close attention to the things they do while learning:
- Are they focused on their homework?
- How do they solve problems?
Give genuine praise when they do something well. Praise shouldn’t be rare!
Let them know, "Mom is watching my efforts, and when I do things well, she recognizes it."
This creates a powerful feedback loop.
The more they feel noticed for the good things, the more likely they’ll want to repeat those behaviors—improving over time.
2. Seek Out External Supervision
Sometimes we want to change ourselves but can’t seem to find the motivation on our own.
That’s when seeking external supervision can help—ask a friend, family member, or coworker to support you.
For example, many people publicly commit to goals on social media—this is a way of looking for external accountability.
Knowing others are watching adds healthy pressure, a sense of responsibility, and increases motivation to follow through and make changes.
3. Create a Positive Environment
A positive atmosphere is critical for long-term change.
If your surroundings encourage and support you, change happens more naturally.
For example:
- Place motivational quotes or dream photos on your work desk to remind you to stay positive.
- Spend time with positive-minded people, talk with them, and learn from their attitudes.
Being around inspiring people will naturally make you want to change your behavior and raise your performance.
Summary
The Hawthorne Effect shows us that attention in itself is a powerful force—when we feel seen and valued, our actions change—even without being told what to do.
Everyone deserves attention.
If you want to change someone for the better, start by focusing your attention on them.
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