The Modification of Human Behaviour

[Anonymous]

I have been dwelling on the psychologist B.F. Skinner this morning and my near future with his prominent book "Beyond Freedom and Dignity". I have found myself totally intrigued by my brief skimming through his world views and his focus on change through the modification of human behaviour. These brief learnings have branched to further thoughts; the changes in culture we see today in addition to the absolutely dysfunctional cultures that exist in our society.

I will present my argument on human behaviour by contrasting two examples; the former being based on a anecdotal and a second-hand perspective (brought to me by MoonShadow) and the latter being based on objective history.

My first example contends that the Jewish culture and success we see today in the culture's people is due to the various struggles and abuse they have suffered for centuries.

We look for the pinnacle alumni of the Jewish race and we begin to see the CEO of Goldman Sachs, Ben Bernanke and countless other wealthy and successful people. Now, this is no coincidence nor a valid contention in anti-Semitic conspiracy but rather a product of hardy culture. I argue that due to the struggles of their people, that their culture was altered and adapted to optimally act in the face of adversity and prosper in peace.

It requires no faith to believe culture can be inherited when we look at ourselves and our behaviors in comparison to our parents and our environment while looking down further down the line at earlier generations. It is very well established that culture retains its structure down various generations. It is very likely we behave and feel much like our great ancestors while adapting in generational times of change much like the physical and genetic evolution of life as a whole on our planet. I argue that the Jewish culture is superior as it is today due to this very phenomenon.

The holocausts, their exiles, their lack of a homeland all shaped their culture for the better and they have only benefited from it when looked from the perspective at our present period.

Now, let's go the very bottom of human culture that by which I will contrast by our greater example. While this will insult the sensibilities of mainy, I will unremorsefully claim that one of the most destroyed and dysfunctional cultures of today is here in the American heartland. It is the Black, African-American community that is the most destroyed. It has been altered by slavery and earlier generational stockholm syndrome pervaded by bigotry of the wealthier white class.

This is where my main contention is stated: the Black culture is still being destroyed at this very moment by government-inflicted dependency of unceasing welfare. It is very clear that aid with no expiration, no matter how great the intention, will destroy culture and a man's will to sustain himself. We go to the poorer districts of our country and we lines upon lines of residences dependent only upon the government programs that were created with such a great heart, as they all think. When the objective fact remains is these people will never step up and sustain themselves until this overbearing aid ends. To claim that they will step up because of some magical caring force is mere religious fiction.

We have altered culture in this case but for the absolute worst. We eliminated the incentive for man to work and sustain, the very defining virtue that separates symbiotic life from parasites.

B.F. Skinner has claimed behavior modification can be used for good and absolute evil and in this case is very much evil.

Welfare and entitlement to life is not a utilitarian benefit in any case in face of evidence of destroyed culture. That is all I wish to present. Life must be able to sustain by its own right, face adversity to promote further growth. I hope this contention has been clearly stated in this brief prose.

I'll be happy to hear all related thoughts.

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[Hawker]

In the UK, thousands of Ugandan Asians were admitted as refugees in the 1970s.  They arrived penniless and often not speaking English.  Faced violent racism when they got here.  Within 20 years, they were all over the Times 100 Rich List and are one of the richest ethnic groups in the country now.

In the same period, hundreds of thousand of Irish migrate here.  Including me.  Excellent education and perfect English.  Often arriving with cash to get started on a new life.  Very friendly reception as the English love the Irish accent and culture.  And not a single one of us made the Times 100 Rich List.

Its obviously something to do with culture.  But how certain groups have the "get rich" culture and others have the "get a job" culture I don't know and I have no idea how to change it.

[Hawker]

You answered your own question. The penniless refugees definitely endured a lot more conditioning and had the need to grasp more skills quickly than their Irish counterparts.

Do you think being outsiders actually helps then?  Jews in most countries, Ugandan Asians in the UK, Chinese in the Philippines and Indonesia are all examples of small outsider communities with huge commercial success.  Perhaps having a second nationality/identity and a sense of being under siege is part of what's needed?

[JA37]

Oh to be young again, when the world was black and white.

[speeder]

I poste on the thread about civlization fall...

As people get screwed, they work harder.

As people get state to help them, they get weak.

It is simple as that...





More than cultures, families are likely to attempt to pass their values forward. My family is sorta weak, but I plan in founding a strong House, that will be alive in a millenia or more, by teaching my children the important values, and teaching them to teach their own children, and to repeat that, no matter if the state exists or not, no matter if we have a easy life or not.

[FirstAscent]

You answered your own question. The penniless refugees definitely endured a lot more conditioning and had the need to grasp more skills quickly than their Irish counterparts.

Do you think being outsiders actually helps then?  Jews in most countries, Ugandan Asians in the UK, Chinese in the Philippines and Indonesia are all examples of small outsider communities with huge commercial success.  Perhaps having a second nationality/identity and a sense of being under siege is part of what's needed?

Actually, that probably plays a significant role. When you're culturally different than the country you immigrate to, you're less self conscious of what role you play, and can do what's necessary to be productive, even if demeaning. The more you're like the culture of the country you're immigrating to, the more energy you probably expend trying to maintain the facade of already being part of that culture, and as a result, the less productive you can be.

To put in further perspective, the immigrating culture that is different is more likely to band together, and support each other in participating in the demeaning tasks, build a better network, and be more successful at building a business through their network.

[Hawker]

Yes the network effect sharing info on opportunities is probably a big part of it.