Capitalism and Behaviourism Go Hand-in-Hand
In a society build on manipulation and competition, it’s no surprise one result is exploitation
Brief disclaimer
This is the fourth of a multi-part article series based on a paper I originally wrote for a University rhetoric course. If you missed parts one, two, or three, I recommend reading those first.
I broke a very long paper into sections and made edits to make it easier to read, so I hope you enjoy.
Behaving badly
Behaviourism is a theory originally developed by John B. Watson, later made famous by B.F. Skinner. Behaviourists posit that all behaviour can be explained in terms of conditioning, without appeal to thoughts or feelings, and that some psychological conditions are best treated by altering behaviour patterns. Behaviourism defines external stimuli which increase the frequency of a behaviour as rewards or reinforcers, and those which decrease or stop a behaviour as punishments or aversives.
In effect, it’s the practice of altering the external environment to facilitate an increase in desired behaviours and a decrease in undesired behaviours. Which behaviours are preferred over others is often determined by the person holding the most power such as…
