Carrot and Stick

According to the Wikipedia, "carrot and stick" approachis an idiom that refers to a policy of offering a combination of rewards and punishment to induce behavior.

It is named in reference to a cart driver dangling a carrot in front of a mule and holding a stick behind it.  The mule would move towards the carrot because it wants the reward of food, while also moving away from the stick behind it, since it does not want the punishment of pain, thus drawing the cart.

Interestingly, there is a same meaning idiom in Japan but we call it "Ame to Muchi" in Japanese.

"Ame" means "candy" and "Muchi" means "whip."

Now there are much more English words in Japan but in the Meiji period (1868-1912), there were many words which came from Germany.

 "Ame to Muchi" was one of them.   They were directly translated from German words "Zuckerbrot und Peitsche" which meant "candy and whip."   These were originally description of the politics by Otto von Bismarck.

Just like carrot in the English idiom of "carrot and stick", "Ame or candy" indicates "offering of rewards."  Then "muchi or whip" indicates "punishment."

After watching the above video of how the professional dog trainers give decipline, I was so impressed by the well-balanced of both "candy and whip."  

We tend to think "whip" or punishment is not good, but I understood punishment was truly important to train dogs.  But that's not all.   At the same time, "reward" or candy was also very important.  

I thought what is most important is.....a balance between candy and whip.  I truly understand they are equally very important to train dog.  Not only dogs, but human children, too!

It was so interesting to watch bad behavior dogs turned out to be good dogs!