Behaviorism and social learning - Assignment Example

Behaviorism and Social Learning. Task: Behaviorism and Social Learning The theory of operant conditioning is a thought brought forth by B.F. Skinner, which relies upon behavioral manipulations in a society to yield the desired conduct. It posits that an individual’s response to environmental factors constitutes their behavior, and as such, controlling these environmental factors extends further to affecting the individual’s overall behavior (Saccuzzo & Kaplan, 2012). Through this, the theory of operant conditioning is based on the key element of strengthening or reinforcing these factors to yield the desired responses.

Moreover, individual’s cognitive development is viewed as a function of the negativity or positivity of the enforcement. From this, Skinner’s theory deducts that behavioral change and learning are correlated thereby affecting interactions within a society (Snowman et al, 2011). In light of the above, setting up an ideal society basing on these ideas require the consideration of all the principles to ensure total utopianism. The society would have one body that deals with all legal issues affecting it.

The structure of this body would consist of distinct branches that deal with positive reinforces and negative reinforces. This is in line with the components of the operant conditioning module (Snowman et al, 2011). The same legal body would formulate the required conditions under these reinforces. From this, the positive reinforces division would be mandated with considering and implementing feasible ideas that commend good behavior in the society through incentives such as awards. On the other hand, the negative reinforces subdivision would be tasked with identifying the conditions within the community that could push individuals into undesired behavior (Saccuzzo & Kaplan, 2012).

Apart from the above, the legal body would be involved with formulating the laws for the society. In doing this, the laws would be considerate of the behavioral principles such as creating a provision whereby all members of the society undergo cognitive behavioral therapy on an annual or biannual interval. This is because cognitive behavior is among the significant aspects that behavioral principles lay emphasis (Snowman et al, 2011). Due to the constant behavioral therapies initiated by the bodies in authority, individuals deemed to be worthy of some check up and psychological intervention would be secluded and subjected to the appropriate action as per their levels of need (Carducci, 2009).

In addition to creating a favorable environment for general economic activities, the above system would extend further to the economy of the society thereby resulting in a climate that facilitates economic growth. The economic structure would integrate only the individuals whose behaviors and cognitive capabilities are endorsed by the legal and psychological bodies within the society mandated with monitoring the cognitive abilities of the masses (Nicholas, 2009). This integration of both practitioners and psychology professionals would ensure that the economic structure of the society was composed of only mentally capable individuals to result in the best possible results and quick decision-making in the entire economic system (Saccuzzo & Kaplan, 2012).

Through this, only the group of individuals responsible for the economy will have access to the knowledge, and as such, this would be in line with the principle that advocates for limiting information to result in the reinforcement of responses (Powell et al, 2009). The reliance of the society on a cognitive therapy guided platform would ensure that the social relations of the community would be cordial and this would extend further to their family compositions (Carducci, 2009). Furthermore, the evils of the society would be faced by a well-designed procedural approach that considers all perspectives of the problems.

This would consider the offender’s traits and background information. All the management programs put in place would be viewing societal tribulations from a therapeutic point of view. The management of ills would also be reliant upon the reinforcement bodies set up. This would consider the levels of positive or negative reinforcement to administer while dealing with societal occurrences (Powell et al, 2009). Moreover, according to the principle that recognizes the generalization of reinforcements across similar stimuli, the bodies would create criteria for organizing the ills into various identical factions to fall under a similar reinforcement as this forms an easier way of dealing with them (Carducci, 2009).

The society would incorporate punishment into the system though it would have to be within the scope of the operant conditioning rubric. This would be in the form of identifying the offenders and subjecting them to stimuli or conditions that would trigger them to reverse their actions or respond weakly to it (Nicholas, 2009). Alternatively, it could involve the withdrawal of a favorable condition after the occurrence of a behavior (Powell et al, 2009). The successful implementation of all these steps would result in a more sane society where the power of psychic and cognitive control would form the basis of directing the society towards the required direction.

References. Saccuzzo, P. & Kaplan, R. (2012). Psychological Testing: Principles, Applications, and Issues. Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning. Powell, R. et al (2009). Introduction to Learning and Behavior. Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning. Snowman, J. et al (2011). Psychology Applied to Teaching. New York, NY: Cengage Learning. Nicholas, L. (2009). Introduction to Psychology. Texas, TX: Juta and Company Ltd. Carducci, B. (2009). The Psychology of Personality. Malden, CA: John Wiley & Sons.