Encouragings

Encouragings is a plural noun referring to acts, strategies, or instances of encouraging others. In common usage, the related singular form encouragement is more widespread, but some theoretical discussions use encouragings to denote multiple interventions or moments of motivational support across contexts such as education, management, parenting, and sports. Encouragings involve offering motivational support, affirmation, or reinforcement to influence another’s motivation, persistence, or well-being. Forms include verbal praise, nonverbal gesture, constructive feedback, goal-setting assistance, and public or private recognition.

The practice relies on social and cognitive mechanisms such as enhanced perceived competence, increased positive affect, and heightened approach motivation. When delivered appropriately—specific, contingent on behavior, and sincere—encouragings can improve effort, persistence, and task performance, and support resilience. However, effectiveness depends on context, individual differences, and cultural norms. Generic praise or insincere encouragement can undermine intrinsic motivation, create dependency, or backfire if misaligned with the learner’s goals or autonomy.

In practice, encouragings are distinguished from broader supportive communication by their focus on motivational reinforcement linked to defined behaviors or goals. They are used in classrooms, workplaces, coaching, caregiving, and therapeutic settings. Critics emphasize the need for balance with autonomy-supportive strategies and highlight potential biases in who receives encouragement.

See also: encouragement, positive reinforcement, social support, self-efficacy.