During the last EFL 252 session, we familiarized
ourselves with some terms and elements of behaviorism as follows:
Classical conditioning
Operant conditioning
Reinforcement
Positive reinforcement
Negative reinforcement
Stimuli
Skinner Box...
We learned that B. F. Skinner had carried out some experiments
on some animals to explore the way they learn, their behaviors and their responses to particular stimuli.
He tried to
teach them to ask for food by means of torture such as giving them electric
shock.
Moreover, he later invented some theories based
on the results of his experiments on those poor animals and applied them to humans to
influence their behaviors.
The main principle in that is you get a reward if you do as you are told
or a punishment if you act otherwise.
As a result of his so called scientific studies, millions of people around the world -parents,
teachers, bosses, managers, etc.- have adopted the implementations of his
theories and treated humans like animals.
I find this outrageous and extremely disgusting.
I have never let anyone reward or punish me depending on whether or not I acted
as they wanted me to and I will never ever! Just let me act according to God's laws and Let Him reward or punish me.
"Only God can judge me " :)) Behaviorism can be disliked and some parts of it are arguable. However, it should be seen as a step towards better methods and techniques. I am against animal and human experimentation as well. But the nature of life is that way, big fish eats the small fish...
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to being punished or rewarded, again, weather we accept it or not that stuff happens due to human nature. Your girlfriend cheats on you, you brake up with her, you are punishing her by excluding yourself away from her. Someone hits you and starts a fight, you reply as a defense mechanism or you hold a grudge and do the same to him...you punish him in a way. Isn't that the case ?
You may be right to some extent. But, the behaviorism i have mentioned here is separate. It's to do with treating people like training animals with the carrot and stick approach. So, i can sometimes be more stubborn than a mule. Sticks can work with them but not with me. As a result, behaviorism is against my nature as a human being.
DeleteAlthough I liked your perspective. Don't you think that conditioning is a way of our responding system of our brains whether you like it or not? To illustrate, You may get angry with somebody but you have to be calm or else you will be punished.
ReplyDeleteDear Ali, I get your point. However I think this is how system works. We should be part of it else we are going to be excluded from the society. Although your point of view is right. Treating people without their will is an example of cruelty. We have to consider these issues to find solutions and not being excluded from society.
ReplyDeleteHello Ali.I think that this writing was sincere one.And this sincerity foster people who read this to rethink about behaviorism.At that point, I think that it is a really good reflection writing.
ReplyDelete