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Chapter 14: Problem 4

I wish to decide whether to include more or fewer study questions in this chapter. decide that I feel like adding a few questions, and I do. I then claim that this shows I have free will, since I could just as easily have chosen to delete a few questions. (a) How would Skinner reply? (b) Do you agree or disagree with Skinner? Why?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Skinner would argue that the decision to add more questions was predetermined by environmental stimuli and not an act of free will. Agreeing or disagreeing with Skinner would depend on personal belief in free will vs determinism, which is subject to individual interpretation.

Step by step solution

01

Understand Skinner's Viewpoint

B. F. Skinner was a behaviorist who held the view that all actions are determined, not by free will, but by the environment. Any perceived thought or feeling of choice actually arises due to a complicated set of external stimuli and reinforcements. Accordingly, he would likely disagree with the idea that the decision to add or remove questions demonstrates free will.
02

Skinner's Response

In response to the decision to add more questions, Skinner would likely point at some external factors that led to it. These could include the desire for approval from students, the perceived necessity for more practice, or even past reinforcement mechanisms like positive feedback received after adding similar questions in the past.
03

Formulate Personal Opinion on Skinner's View

While this will differ from person to person, it's important to critically examine Skinner's viewpoint and form an independent opinion. Some may agree with Skinner, arguing that numerous unseen variables influence our decisions. Others may disagree, believing in personal autonomy and the capacity for conscious, unimpeded choice. This part will vary from student to student as it is subjective in nature.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Give some examples of poorly designed contingencies of reinforcement that are common in our society.

Give an example from real life or from fiction to support the following statement by Skinner: A good way to reduce the probability of undesirable behavior is by reinforcing incompatible, desirable behavior.

(a) Explain the difference between classical conditioning and operant conditioning. (b) Explain the difference between negative reinforcement and punishment. (c) Explain the difference between Freud's concept of repression and Skinner's view of repression.

Give an example from real life or from fiction to illustrate each of the following Skinnerian concepts: (a) response shaping, (b) partial reinforcement, (c) stimulus generalization, (d) discrimination, (e) extinction.

Rats in a Skinner box learn by what is called "trial and error": They try out various responses (e.g., rearing up on their hind paws, crouching, moving to the rear of the box) until they hit on the one that produces reinforcement (pressing the bar). Why do some critics regard Skinner's approach as not applicable to many areas of human endeavor?
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