
Concept introduction
Skinner proposed that individual behavior, and society as a whole, could be designed and controled using the principles of operant conditioning (i.e., reinforcements and punishments).

Explanation of Solution
There are both pros and cons to consider when imagining a Skinner society. To Skinner, the ability to control human behavior by controlling the environment would lead to a future filled with happy citizens and socially desirable outcomes. Such a society could be safer, cleaner, and more productive. Individuals in Skinner’s society could be more educated, charitable, kind, and motivated to achieve the same goals. The harmful notions of racism and sexism could be eliminated by punishing these ideas and reinforcing the ideals of human equality. Additionally, stigmatization of certain individuals, for example substance users, could be reduced or even eliminated if society viewed the environment as the problem, rather than assigning personal blame to these individuals. At the same time, however, it is also important to consider the potential costs of such a society. Individualism may become limited, if everyone is conditioned to believe in and work toward the same ideals. Additionally, who would decide on what gets reinforced or punished? Creating “universal” ideals could lead to totalitarian control, with society being controlled by a few people in power. Additionally, in a world defined by operant conditioning, people may develop a sort of apathy, or learned helplessness, if they believe that they have no power over their lives and that it is their environment that defines them. This lack of personal responsibility may be damaging to individuals’ sense of identity and their motivation. In this thought experiment, there are both positive and negative possibilities to consider at both the level of society and the individual.
Want to see more full solutions like this?
Chapter 5 Solutions
Discovering Psychology
- Share AB You said: Excerpt from The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus: Part II written by Christopher Marlowe FAUSTUS. Settle thy studies, Faustus, and begin To sound the depth of that thou wilt profess: Having commenc’d, be a divine in shew, Yet level at the end of every art, And live and die in Aristotle’s works. Sweet Analytics, ‘tis thou hast ravish’d me! Bene disserere est finis logices. Is, to dispute well, logic’s chiefest end? Affords this art no greater miracle? Then read no more; thou hast attain’d that end: A greater subject fitteth Faustus’ wit: Bid Economy farewell, and Galen come, Seeing, Ubi desinit philosophus, ibi incipit medicus: Be a physician, Faustus; heap up gold, And be eterniz’d for some wondrous cure: Summum bonum medicinae sanitas, The end of physic is our body’s health. Why, Faustus, hast thou not attain’d that end? Is not thy common talk found aphorisms? Are not thy bills hung up as monuments, Whereby whole cities have escap’d the…arrow_forwardWe must often work as a team to get a task done and sometimes the members of that team differ from us in temperament or in the way they work. Tell us about an experience in which you were part of a team and had to adapt to working with someone despite your differences.arrow_forwardYou receive several assignments, all of which have deadlines for this week. How do you plan and organize your work to meet conflicting deadlines?arrow_forward
- Match the term with the short description. Prompts Answers Capriccio A short work fairly free in form resembling spontaneous improvisation Fantasy A short work fairly free in form and of lively character and virtuous nature Impromptu A whimsy, fanciful short instrumental work Prelude An introductory work performed before another longer composition; a short piece for pianoarrow_forwardDescribe one major federal program providing aid and services to children and families (e.g., income assistance programs, food and nutrition programs, health care programs, child protective services, or education programs). What are the causes and consequences of the program as implemented? What changes could make this a more equitable or accessible program? Please cite in text source and list referencesarrow_forwardPrompts Answers Fantastic symphony Hector Berlioz Madama butterfly Franz Schubert Erlking Richard Wagner The Ring Giacomo Puccuniarrow_forward
- Prompts Answers Thematic transformation A melody or theme that appears recurrently throughout a symphony Leif motive Intimate song for singer and piano usually composed to an existing poem Idee fixe Alteration of the character of a theme by means of variation when returns in a later movement or section Art song A technique used by Wagner to identify characters or ideas in his operasarrow_forwardFind an example of musical quotation and identify: The name of the original work that is quoted (list composer, band, or anonymous if applicable) The name of the new work (band/composer/singer, etc.) Provide an analysis of the elements of music that are borrowed from the original work (entire melody, motives or sections of the melody, harmony, rhythm, instrumentation, etc.)arrow_forwardSelect all the statements that best describe 19th century composers: 1) Composed to fulfil and inner need 2) Were respected members of society 3) Sought to create original works 4) Worked for the court patronage systemarrow_forward
- Prompts Answers Dvorak Finlandia Smetana New World Symphony Mussorgsky My Country Sibelius Pictures at an Exhibitionarrow_forwardPrompts Answers Sonata Form Compositional form featuring a main theme that returns in alternation with other contrasting themes Rondo Tripartite form in triple meter of fast and lively character Scherzo Compositional form in which a basic musical idea is repeated over and over and changed each time in melody, rhythm, harmony, dynamics, or tone character Theme and Variations Compositional form consisting of three main sections generally used as the first movement in a multi-movement workarrow_forwardPrompts Answers Symphony A three-movement work for an instrumental soloist and an orchestra Concerto A multiple movement orchestral work that often consists of four movements with contrasting emotions, tempo, and mood Cadenza A passage displaying technical virtuosity that is played or improvised by the soloist without orchestral accompaniment String quartet A composition for solo string instruments, usually two violins, viola, and celloarrow_forward
- Ciccarelli: Psychology_5 (5th Edition)PsychologyISBN:9780134477961Author:Saundra K. Ciccarelli, J. Noland WhitePublisher:PEARSONCognitive PsychologyPsychologyISBN:9781337408271Author:Goldstein, E. Bruce.Publisher:Cengage Learning,Introduction to Psychology: Gateways to Mind and ...PsychologyISBN:9781337565691Author:Dennis Coon, John O. Mitterer, Tanya S. MartiniPublisher:Cengage Learning
- Psychology in Your Life (Second Edition)PsychologyISBN:9780393265156Author:Sarah Grison, Michael GazzanigaPublisher:W. W. Norton & CompanyCognitive Psychology: Connecting Mind, Research a...PsychologyISBN:9781285763880Author:E. Bruce GoldsteinPublisher:Cengage LearningTheories of Personality (MindTap Course List)PsychologyISBN:9781305652958Author:Duane P. Schultz, Sydney Ellen SchultzPublisher:Cengage Learning





