Revised on 1/4/14
Nobody ever does anything just because they ought to or because it's the right thing to do. The only reason behaviors ever happen is because they've been reinforced. This is an important rule of thumb that you really oughta wanna keep close at hand. If you want to understand why a behavior happens, figure out what's reinforcing it or what has reinforced it in the past.
When we say we did something because it was the right thing to do, we're speaking metaphorically or poetically, and not scientifically. Language like that seems to provide an explanation, but really doesn't. It tends to put an end to our search for the true explanation. Metaphor and poetry are wonderful, but they're not science. Behavior analysis is the science of behavior.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
They really oughta wanna do it
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Principles of Behavior: Ch. 02
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I teach courses in the principles and applications of Behavior Analysis, the science and technology of behavior, which is different from other approaches in psychology in that it takes behavior as a subject matter in its own right, rather than as a tool for studying something else, such as the mind. The main purpose of this blog is to be a supplementary means of communication with students who are taking my courses.
4 comments:
With the following being said, "The only reason behaviors ever happen is because they've been reinforced," my question is as follows: With our children, we raise them to be well mannered and adhere to what society considers morally correct. Their behaviors are a reflection of our continual reinforcement of what is right and work and the consequences as well as the rewards for both.
What then makes a child, at say 15 years of age, dismiss all of those years of "behavioral training" if you will, and decide to engage in behaviors that are considered deviant and either borderline criminal or full blown criminal?
How can all of those years of "behavioral training" of what is right versus wrong disappear, or go into hiding at the blink of an eye?
First of all, it doesn't happen in the blink of an eye. Second, all behaviors happen because they've been reinforced, and that includes the behaviors we call deviant. Each of us is being influenced by many intertwined and interacting behavioral contingencies at every moment. Our moment-to-moment behavior is the product of this complex intermixing of behavioral contingencies and environmental factors. All behavior, and all changes in behavior over time, are ultimately explainable in terms of the principles you're learning about in your course.
This reminds me of a discussion that we had in my child psy class and in many early literature classes. Are children born evil or do they learn it? Does a child know right from wrong when they are born, if not then how do they know what is evil and what is not? If so, then they must be are taught what is moral and what is not? One you think about it more deeply, it was always a good discussion despite what you may believe.
I am a rule-follower. I am not a rule-follower because I believe certain things, although those things that I believe can impact my "rule-following". I am a rule-follower because rule-following has been reinforced throughout my lifetime. This applies to over achievers and perfectionists - behaviors of both are reinforced.
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