This is a very common misuse and misunderstanding of that phrase.
The origin of “carrot and stick” approach comes from an old story of how you can get a donkey to move forward. You sit on the donkey’s back and tie a carrot to the end of a stick. You dangle it in front of the donkey’s nose and he moves forward to try to get it. But of course, the carrot moves with him, so he keeps going forward, trying to catch the carrot.
In other words, it’s not about alternating punishment and reward. It’s about motivating someone by dangling a reward just out of reach. But if they keep on going, maybe you’ll eventually let them have a taste.
This is a very common misuse and misunderstanding of that phrase.
The origin of “carrot and stick” approach comes from an old story of how you can get a donkey to move forward. You sit on the donkey’s back and tie a carrot to the end of a stick. You dangle it in front of the donkey’s nose and he moves forward to try to get it. But of course, the carrot moves with him, so he keeps going forward, trying to catch the carrot.
In other words, it’s not about alternating punishment and reward. It’s about motivating someone by dangling a reward just out of reach. But if they keep on going, maybe you’ll eventually let them have a taste.