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- SKINNER AND ANIMALS
- SKINNER, FREEDOM AND DIGNITY
- SKINNERS UTOPIC SOCIETY
OPERANT CONDITIONINGSkinner believed that the tool psychologists could use to change behavior for the good of society was “operant conditioning”. Operant conditioning is a theory developed by Skinner where a being is “operating” in the midst of the world that is surrounding it. As it is “operating” it encounters a specific type of stimuli, which Skinner calls a reinforcing stimulus. A reinforcing stimulus has the ability to increase the operant, or behavior occurring immediately before the reinforcing stimulus. Under the theory of operant conditioning, a behavior is followed by a consequence and the nature of the consequence alters the chances for repeating the behavior in the future. The time frame is as follows: a behavior is committed, that is the operant. The behavior is committed based on the reinforcing stimulus. Then, a consequence takes place based on the behavior. That reinforcing stimulus teaches that the behavior had positive effects, and increases the action to be taken again. Therefore, the operant is increased. Skinner didn't believe that negative reinforcers should be used for operant conditioning. Skinner took issue with some psychologists use of negative reinforcers. An example of negative reinforcers would be the famous experiment involving Pavlov's dog. Pavlov would sometimes drop water on the dog's head or hit the dog to try and modify behavior. In Pavlov's experiment, the negative reinforcers were combined with positive reinforcers, like receiving food or a pat on the head. Skinner's objection to the use of negative reinforcers was not based on any moral principle, such things did not exist for Skinner. Instead, Skinner felt that negative reinforcers were a poor means for modifying a subject behavior. Negative reinforcers gave impetus for individuals not to change their behavior, because many people have a tendency to push back when pushed. Therefore, if you wanted to effectively change the behavior of an individual, you should only use positive reinforcers. Many have argued against negative reinforcers. However, most do so based on moral or ethical grounds. Skinner provides a pragmatic way to reject negative reinforcers. SKINNER AND ANIMALSIt should be noted that Skinner took the liberty of transferring the results of his experiments from animals to humans. The majority of the data that he used for developing his theory of operant conditioning came from experimenting on lab rats and pigeons. From there, Skinner extrapolated what was true for pigeons and rats in very specific circumstances and applied them to human beings in both very different and very complex situations. This has led to other scientists questioning the validity of Skinner's research. Skinner's research on animals consisted of using positive reinforcers in an attempt to modify their behavior. He would use positive reinforcers to attempt to teach the rats and pigeons tricks. He, for instance, taught the pigeons how to dance. However, no one has yet to firmly establish that the same types of positive reinforcers work in humans. Skinner's research provides excellent detail on training animals, but its applicability to humans is still questionable. SKINNER, FREEDOM AND DIGNITYSkinner did not believe in good people and bad people as created by nature from birth. Instead, he believed that those distinctions were created by the way individuals were treated throughout their lives. Skinner believed that bad people did bad things because they were rewarded and that good people did good things because they were rewarded. He argued that human being's reinforcers for bad and good decisions were anarchic, they were all dependent on how you were influenced and there was no universal control of what was good and bad. This relativistic point of view created the notion that individuals would be different because they came from histories of different experiences. Skinner argued that society as a whole should use behavioral technology to design a culture where the good get rewarded and the bad gets eliminated through behavior modification. This type of program would first require a definition of what is good and what is bad. In order to encourage good behavior, it should be rewarded. Negative reinforcers should not be used when bad is committed, but all good should be rewarded with positive reinforcers. By encouraging appropriate and good behavior, there would be more of a motivation to act in those ways. This would also decrease the incentive to act in bad ways. Slowly, society's behavior could be modified until people always avoided acting badly and pursued acting in manners that were good. Another one of Skinner’s arguments is that freedom is an illusion. He feels that it doesn’t exist, and since it doesn’t exist any discussion of “freedom” as a means to impede progress was destructive to society as a whole. Skinner viewed the values of "freedom" and "dignity" as obstructions to achieving progress as a society. Skinner argued that the desire to do what one wanted, or "freedom," was a value that only the privileged shared. This privileging of freedom, he argued, was responsible for impeding the progress of society as a whole. In order to correct that problem Skinner argued that one should use behaviorist methods of control to force individuals to be productive, while at the same time use it to make them think they are "free." Skinner felt that the only way freedom was beneficial to society as a whole was if they felt free. Freedom as a concept, then, gets in the way of society using reinforcers to produce good behavior. Admitting that manipulation is the superior option, Skinner urges that we make people think they are free while still controlling their behavior. SKINNER'S UTOPIC SOCIETYSkinner believes that the concept of human agency is what is responsible for the destruction of society (both social and ecological) that he sees occurring. While this belief may seem extreme, it is important to remember the circumstances in the world (post-WWII) when Skinner was developing his theories. In the utopic society he creates in "Walden 2," Skinner uses his theories of operant conditioning and behavior modification to remove the concept of human freedom and dignity. It is interesting to note that Skinner's Utopic society requires behavioral modification and control in order to exist. It is not created out of a state of nature, but rather through effort and dedication and using rewards to modify behavior. 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