B.F. Skinner, a behavioral learning theorist, states that behaviors are learned and learning is represented by a permanent change in behavior. The components of this theory are reinforcers -- good or bad. Most people think of reinforcers as rewards for good behavior. There are actually two types of reinforcers -- positive and negative. Positive reinforcers are when a stimulus is given, and negative reinforcers are when a stimulus is taken away. However, negative reinforcers are different than punishments. Punishing is when either taking away a positive reinforcer or adding a negative reinforcer.
He also says that changes in behavior are the result of an individual's response to events, or stimuli, in the environment. When a particular Stimulus-Response pattern is reinforced, the individual is conditioned to respond. This pattern is known as Operant Conditioning, and the distinct characteristic of this is relative to previous forms of behaviorism, when the organism can emit responses instead of only eliciting a response due to an external stimulus.
A distinctive aspect of this theory is that it attempts to explain a broad range of cognitive phenomena. Drive, or motivation, is explained in terms of deprivation and reinforcement schedules. For example, when a person is facing hunger as a result of hard economic times, or deprivation, that person goes out to look for a job, so that he can buy food, or earn his reward for working.
This theory has been widely accepted in clinical settings (behavior modification), schools (classroom management), and community colleges (programmed instruction). An example...
He introduced the concept of the "Superman" when he argued how this individual is not only the ideal human of modern society, but he is also the model individual, for he was able to transcend the boundaries that morality and religion had put on humanity. Thus, for him, the "Superman" already existed during his time, though the feat of transcending and not believing in morality can well be under way
Aldous Huxley The purpose of this work is to explore Aldous Huxley's view of religion, his belief in "moderate" applicable use of mind-altering and mind-expanding drugs as well as the prediction he made for the future of mankind. This will be done through reading of his works, as well as one interview. Aldous Huxley has been described as many things such as the great "English novelist," "essayist," "iconoclast," "social prophet," and "proponent
Brave New World, Aldous Huxley carefully chose the names of his characters to reflect their political connotations. As his characters struggle with the inherent problems with their "utopian" society, the character names constantly remind the reader of important political, economic, and social figures. As such, Huxley's use of character names like Bernard Marx, Lenina Crowe, and Benito Hoover reflects Huxley's concern over the types of methods used to control
There will always be savages, and the attraction of savagery. Huxley wrote Brave New World as a warning. Today, in the age of test-tube pregnancy, genetic manipulation, powerful drugs and the mass media, it appears that his warning has gone unheeded and that America is on the road to the scientific utopia he describes. Certainly the world of the savages has been left behind, and for good reason. Modern Americans
He deplores the hiding of true violence. That hornet reference really came down to this, Huxley says; "in other words, to go and throw thermite, high explosives and vesicants [i.e. chemical weapons...] upon the inhabitants of neighboring countries before they have time to come and do the same to us." Another pet peeve of Aldous Huxley is the use of abstract entities like "man power" and "fire power"; and he
Whatever happened you vanished, and neither you nor your actions were ever heard of again" (Orwell, 1949, p.168). Capitalism Principles of mass production are very clear in the novels. Huxley for instance, applied the idea of mass production in human reproduction, since the people has abandoned the natural method of reproduction. Mass production as the conventional feature of capitalism and Huxley's novel reinforces such. He talked about the requirement of the
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