Reflections on Behaviorism and Society. Chapter 1: Human Behavior and Democracy. Quote 9

Post author:B. F. Skinner Foundation
Post published:June 5, 2019
Post category:Skinner's Quote of the Day

“Welfare—either as a social measure or as a political philosophy—raises the problem of the noncontingent reinforcer …” (p. 7)

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SKINNER'S QUOTE OF THE DAY

Verbal Behavior: Extended Edition. Chapter 6: Special Conditions Affecting Stimulus Control. Quote 2
The distortion due to differential generalized reinforcement may be traced in the behavior of the troubadour or in the history of the art of fiction. The troubadour begins, let us say, by recounting actual heroic exploits. Certain parts of his account receive special approval because they interest or flatter his listeners. A first effect is that these parts survive in future tellings. Under the same differential reinforcement he begins to stretch his report; he exaggerates the size of the battle and the Heroism of the participants (hyperbole). Finally, he breaks away from stimulus control altogether, “describing” scenes he has never observed or “reporting” stories he has never heard. (pp. 149-150)
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“Welfare—either as a social measure or as a political philosophy—raises the problem of the noncontingent reinforcer …” (p. 7)

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