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Walden 1.9: Successive Approximations

Walden 1.9: Successive Approximations In Walden Two, B. F. Skinner offered a cultural design that has intrigued behavior analysts and other thoughtful individuals far over forty years. Some experimental attempts to implement the technologies in the real world have occurred, but clearly the effects until now have been circumscribed, and behavior analysis is in short-term danger of becoming a specialized technology for dealing with a narrow range of human problems. Skinner himself, and others, have examined reasons for the limited impact of Walden Two on the overall culture. Perhaps the gap between the current socioculturel situation and that of Walden Two is too large to leap all at once. While Frazier’s argument that separation from the mainstream is essential may ultimately prove true, at this point very few individuals have emitted the requisite behaviors, leaving behind family, career, and economic independence far a promised land of perpetual reinforcement Three initial approaches are explored in this fictional account, each of which, building on stimulus equivalence, resembles existing cultural institutions to some extent, but may have potential for bringing Skinner’s technology more broadly into daily life. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Behavior and Social Issues Springer Journals

Walden 1.9: Successive Approximations

Mattaini, Mark
Behavior and Social Issues , Volume 1 (2) – Oct 1, 1991
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Publisher
Springer Journals
Copyright
Copyright
Subject
Psychology; Clinical Psychology; Personality and Social Psychology
ISSN
1064-9506
eISSN
2376-6786
DOI
10.5210/bsi.v1i2.168
Publisher site
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Abstract

In Walden Two, B. F. Skinner offered a cultural design that has intrigued behavior analysts and other thoughtful individuals far over forty years. Some experimental attempts to implement the technologies in the real world have occurred, but clearly the effects until now have been circumscribed, and behavior analysis is in short-term danger of becoming a specialized technology for dealing with a narrow range of human problems. Skinner himself, and others, have examined reasons for the limited impact of Walden Two on the overall culture. Perhaps the gap between the current socioculturel situation and that of Walden Two is too large to leap all at once. While Frazier’s argument that separation from the mainstream is essential may ultimately prove true, at this point very few individuals have emitted the requisite behaviors, leaving behind family, career, and economic independence far a promised land of perpetual reinforcement Three initial approaches are explored in this fictional account, each of which, building on stimulus equivalence, resembles existing cultural institutions to some extent, but may have potential for bringing Skinner’s technology more broadly into daily life.

Journal

Behavior and Social Issues – Springer Journals

Published: Oct 1, 1991

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