My first position during high school (1.5 yr fast food), only recieved feedback during promotions. Jumped to the Marines and recieved a mega-ton of feedback. Fastforward to now, I've been in my current technology position for a year-and-a-half and the only time I heard feedback for my work was when a promotion came. I recently took on some telecommute contract work saving a product from failure and I receieved quite a bit of positive feedback (phone have something to do with it?).

So yeah, sounds about right. I would attribute it to a lot of people in leadership positions not really having training as to the processes of actual leading people. They may know how to make a phenominal gantt chart, but most of all flounder when it comes to maintaining interpersonal relationships.

The bottom line is that you have direct influence into a persons attitude, good or bad. If you completely lash out against somebody, that will produce negative results. If you praise and talk about what you liked about something, that will be a motivational nudge. Find a good middle ground where you can provide feedback both good/bad for somebody. Feedback is hugely important otherwise the person is just lost/assuming their own way.