Reference no: EM133742378
Assignment: Skinner on Behavior Control
Part I
A. Summarize Skinner's point about the consistency of the view of individual behavior across the different agencies of government, psychotherapy, religion, etc.
B. What is Skinner's definition of government? Describe some of the techniques that the government uses to control human behavior.
C. Describe the contingencies of laws on human behavior and the relationship between human behavior and the lawmakers.
D. Describe the issue of counter-control, and the point Skinner is trying to make about how a better understanding of human behavior may lead to less government control.
Part II
A. Describe how superstitious behavior, or what we think might be "magical" behaviors, are developed.
B. How does superstition or magic relate to Skinner's discussion of religion?
C. Describe the techniques of religious control. What does Dr. Skinner say about the type of behavior controlled by religion, and counter-control measures/behaviors that are recognized.
Part III
A. List and briefly describe by-products of control.
B. Skinner says that control produces (through either respondent or operant mechanisms) "emotional" by-products. List and describe these.
C. Skinner claims there are specific effects on operant behavior of control. List and describe these, and give real-life examples of each.
D. Summarize Skinner's conceptualization of the relationship of the scientific method of studying behavior to both diagnosis and treatment, and the same with psychotherapy. How are they different? How is each to be used?
E. Provide a summary of Skinner's discussion of traditional pre-scientific interpretation of maladaptive behaviors. Where is the root of the problem according to psychotherapy? Where is the root of the problem according to the scientific study of behavior? Be familiar with the traditional view of psychotherapy and why humans do what they do, and how that view differs from a scientific perspective on human behavior.
Part IV
A. Summarize Skinner's discussion of "wage schedules." Name and describe each schedule, examples of behavior that is reinforced under this schedule, and the pattern of behavior that is displayed from this schedule. Be able to distinguish between the schedules, and if given an example, name the schedule being illustrated.
B. Depending on whether or not an individual values their work, the work can become aversive because of competing contingencies. Summarize the point Skinner is making about the economic value of labor, and give an example of competing contingencies.
C. How does Skinner explain gambling behavior in terms of contingencies of reinforcement, schedules, and persistence?
D. Describe Skinner's point about counter control exerted by groups in the context of economics.