Philosophy - Practical Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Philosophy - Practical Ethics - Essay Example In this paper I will discuss the moral difference between abortion and infanticide with special reference to the views of Michael Tooley and Mary Anne Warren. Metaphysics is an area of philosophy that deals with questions having to do with the ultimate grounding and nature of things in the world. It is concerned with such diverse topics as the mind/body problem, identity, God, the existence and nature of universals, the existence and nature of the soul, and so on. Thus, the morality of abortion, if it is to be construed as contingent upon the nature of the fetus, is an issue whose resolution depends on which metaphysical view of the human person is correct. Given this, let us take a look at Michael's argument. Although he makes many provocative and interesting claims that deserve a reply, I will focus on a small portion of his essay that I believe is the core of his case. According to Michael, "the first principle of religious liberty is that laws will not be based upon abstract metaphysical speculation, but will be fashioned through the democratic processes in which every perspective is subject to critical analysis (Michael, 2000). Any proposal must be open either to revision or rejection." He then goes on to cite, as an example of what is not speculative metaphysics, the viability standard proposed by the Court in Roe. I will first critique Michael's use and defense of the viability standard and then move on to a general critique of Michael's view of "abstract metaphysical speculation." ... the viability standard in particular, fairly, sensibly, and effectively functions to safeguard the constitutional liberties of pregnant women while recognizing and accommodating the State's interest in potential human life. The viability line reflects the biological facts and truths of fetal development; it marks the threshold moment prior to which a fetus cannot survive separate from the woman and cannot reasonably and objectively be regarded as a subject of rights or interests distinct from, or paramount to, those of the pregnant woman (Michael, 2000). At the same time, the viability standard takes account of the undeniable fact that as the fetus evolves into its postnatal form, and as it loses its dependence on the uterine environment, the State's interest in the fetus' potential human life, and in fostering a regard for human life in general, becomes compelling. Michael's argument for the viability standard is nearly identical to the one presented by Blackmun: Part of the genius in Roe v. Wade (now affirmed in Casey) was putting forward the standard of viability: that stage of development at which the fetus has sufficient neurological and physical maturation to survive outside the womb. Prior to that, the fetus simply is not sufficiently developed as an independent being deserving and requiring the full protection of the law, i.e., a person (Michael, 2000). The notion of viability correlates biological maturation with personal identity in a way that can be recognized and accepted by reasonable people. Michael's use of the viability standard is seriously flawed. First, he praises the Court's legal use of the standard and then employs the standard as a decisive moment at which he believes it is reasonable to say that the fetus becomes a person, even though that is

Consider the View That Free

Consider the View That Free Will is an Illusion Essay You decide on the chocolate cake confident that you could have chosen the sandwich instead. You were free to do both, but as a matter of fact, you chose to eat the unhealthy option. But were you actually free to choose the unchosen alternative? Many philosophers think that free will is actually an illusion – that the choice you actually made was inevitable. Schopenhauer, for example, argued that for a man to say that he could have chosen an alternative is analogous to water in a still pond saying it could be flowing. Yes, he said, the water could be flowing if that same water were in a river, but given that it is actually in a pond its stillness is inevitable. I will argue that the arguments that purport to show that free will is an illusion are weak, and that we have such a thing as free will. First let us look at the arguments for determinism (here I will understand the determinism being discussed to be hard determinism – the view that our free will is illusory – rather than the compatibilist idea that free will can exist alongside causal determinism). What makes you take the chocolate cake instead of the sandwich? We think that the chocolate taking is the result of our deliberation and that the motive for eating the chocolate cake overcame our desire to be healthy. But what determined or caused us to be the kind of being that preferred the one to the other? It was our overall character. But what caused this? We say it is our upbringing and our genes. Now did we decide upon our upbringing that started the casual chain of events that culminated in the taking of the chocolate? No, so there was no other action that was in fact possible. Think of a snooker ball falling into the pocket. What caused this to happen? It was the combination of its shape, the direction of the cue, and the nature of the table. These factors combined with the laws of physics made the event inevitable. Of course, the snooker ball was not logically required to go into the pocket. There could have been a gust a wind at the crucial moment, but then this other event would have been causally necessary. Other things can only happen if other things which cause these other things to happen occur. So whatever happens is determined. If this is true of snooker balls, why should it be not true of us as well? If we are physical beings, and our brains composed of physical stuff, why should I be not constrained by the same physical forces as everything else? The hard determinist says that there is no reason to believe that we are not subject, like the billiard ball, to the laws of nature. We feel like we could have chosen the sandwich, but given the physical facts about the situation the taking of the chocolate was inevitable. Of course, we could have taken the sandwich if the physical facts were different, but they weren’t! So free will – the sense that we could have done otherwise in the same situation – is an illusion say the hard determinists. We are not free. This is a radical thesis, and if accepted would result in a radical readjustment of our concept of ourselves. And it from this that my first argument comes. According to phenomenalism we should proceed according to this methodology: accept the appearances – accept what you have the most warrant for believing. Descartes, for example, says we can be more philosophically assured of the existence of our own minds than the existence of the physical world. Hence his famous proposition: Cogito ergo sum. Why should the more doubtful propositions of science about the nature of the doubtable physical world take precedence over the immediate data of consciousness? Why should the philosophically disputable over-ride the philosophically indubitable? Physical determinists are committed to this doubtful methodology: let the world, which we cannot prove to exist, take precedence over the mental world whose existence we simply cannot doubt. The phenomenalist like Sartre says the mental appearances are indisputable. We certainly have the phenomenology of the appearance that we could have chosen otherwise. And it is from these certainties that we should proceed. So our freedom is here an inevitable part of our conception of ourselves and no argument from the outside world of physics can over-ride these certainties. Here’s another argument against the acceptance of the idea that free will is an illusion. Kant says that ought implies can. In other words, we cannot be obliged to do something if it is not within our ability to do it. Someone may say that I ought to eliminate third world poverty – that if I do not do so I am guilty of a neglect of duty. But this is unreasonable. It is not within my power to eliminate third world poverty, so it cannot be said that I ought to do so. Of course, if someone were to say that I ought to help to eliminate third world poverty, this is a reasonable ‘ought’ because I can do it. Ought then implies can. The argument proceeds from this presupposition and says that if Eric murders Sam we say that he ought not to have done so. He ought to have done differently – he ought to have refrained from murder. But if determinism is true, then, Eric had no alternative open to him. He was caused by his nature, the laws of physics, and his environment to kill Sam. We cannot therefore say that he ought not to have done it. We cannot expect people to do things that are not within their power to do. Our moral beliefs then presuppose that determinism is false. If we are not free then a morality of oughts and duty is incoherent. Again, we could proceed phenomenologically on this – we are more sure and have more warrant for our oughts than we have for our beliefs in determinism, so moral oughts should over-ride any belief we might be entertaining for determinism. Another argument against determinism says this: if I am caused to inevitably accept the conclusions of an argument then I cannot have been rational to accept the conclusions of the argument. If I am determinist I have to say that my belief in determinism was caused by physical processes. The determinist has to accept that it is true for his opponent. Both are caused by ignorant physical forces to accept their beliefs. But this is self-refuting. The determinist is in effect saying that there is no rationality, so we cannot be rational in accepting or rejecting beliefs. So the consistent determinist cannot say that he is offering reasons for accepting determinism; he must say he is putting in new causal inputs that cause a new belief state to emerge. This seems little better than irrational brain-washing! To conclude: belief in determinism is not warranted. It goes against our fundamental conceptions of ourselves and threatens to make morality meaningless. Moreover, determinism is self-refuting. It says of itself ‘There is no rational reason for accepting me. ’ I cannot rationally accept that which has no rational reason for its justification.

breakdown class divisions in society

breakdown class divisions in society Give a brief description of the effects of changes to educational legislation since 1944. Explain how the changes reflected government education policies and identify current educational priorities. The purpose of this assignment is to summarise education legislation from 1944 to present day and relate this to changes in government policy. There were many changes in education from 1944 to the modern day National Curriculum that we use today. In 1944 The Education Act was introduced that made education available to everyone up to the age of fifteen. The Education Act is more commonly referred to as The Butler Act as it was founded by Richard Austen Butler (Rab Butler), a conservative politician. Butlers 1944 Education Act was an attempt to create the structure for the post-war British education system. The Butler act also introduced the tri-partite system of education. The tri-partite system tested children at the age of eleven (11 plus examination), and depending on their level of aptitude they would then attend a technical college, a secondary modern or a grammar school. The more academic students attended grammar schools, technically minded students attended technical colleges and the rest attended secondary moderns. The act also created a network of support services for schools to which included health care treatment, school transport and school meals for 5 15 year olds which were overseen by the newly created post of Minister of Education. The Labour Government when they came into power in 1965 decided to introduce Comprehensive Schooling education (Circular 10/65). Labour preferred this system of schooling over the Conservative Selective Method. They had three main aims: To save money and improve facilities. To breakdown class divisions in society with all sorts of pupils mixing in the same school. To raise the abilities of the majority of students who had been failing in secondary modern schools. At the next election in 1970, the new Conservative education minister Margaret Thatcher withdrew the Circular 10/65. The priority of the Conservative government was to smash the L.E.A. control over the local schools. The replacement Circular 10/70 allowed each authority to decide its own policy for secondary education. As a result of these changes education standards in secondary schools varied and the methods employed to teacher were wide -ranging. Primary schools remained largely unchanged and stable with the exception of the debate over the 11 plus examination. The Education Reform (ERA) in 1988 is one of the most influential changes to legislation that is still in place today, and this was the most important act since the Butler act in 1944. It was established by the Conservative Government and saw a number of key changes to the rules and regulations. The 1988 education act also introduced the National Curriculum. The National Curriculum was introduced to ensure that schools taught a certain range of subjects. The first National Curriculum consisted of ten subjects. These were divided into two categories. The three core subjects were English, Maths and Science, and together with seven other foundation subjects created the basis of the National Curriculum. Compulsory National tests (SATS) were introduced at 7, 11 and 14 on core subjects. The results are published annually in league tables (along with GCSE/A levels and truancy statistics). The 1988 act also allowed the building of City Technology Colleges. They were independent and not run by the LEAs. The governments new strategy introduced the new Local Management of Schools (LMS) policy which reduced the control over schools by letting them opt-out of L.E.A. control. The 1992, OFSTED (The Office for Standards in Education) was formed as part of the major overhaul and centralisation of the school system begun by the Education Reform Act 1988, which introduced the National Curriculum, extensive testing in schools and the publication of league tables. OFSTED inspections were school inspections every 6 years. In 1997 The New Labour Government came into power, it was predicted that New Labour would reverse most of the changes implemented by the previous government but that never occurred. Instead they continued with the Conservatives initiatives and further developed them with the The Education Act 2002. This act introduced the foundation stage for primary nursery and reception year groups. The latest act to be implemented is the The Education and Inspection Bill 2006 which was passed in March 2006 by the Labour Government. The main areas of change in education are as follows: Foundation (Trust) Schools. School admissions policies to be changed to allow parents to select schools of their choice. Changes to the National Curriculum to include new diplomas to replace current A-Levels to be implemented by 2013. Changes to school travel to allow greater access to a variety of schools rather than local ones. School food and drink provided for children in education and childcare settings. The United Kingdom general election of 2010 was held on Thursday 6th May 2010. A coalition government was set up by the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats (The last coalition government was during World War 2). The immediate changes that took place were to rename and reshape The Department for Education DFE (Previously called Department for Children, Schools and Families DCFS). The government reverted the departments responsibilities back to education and childrens services only. The following day Rat Hon Michael Gove was confirmed as the new Secretary of State for Education. At present some policy changes decided by the previous government have been put on hold, reversed or abolished until the new government decides on its priorities. The future changes to the new primary national curriculum which were put forward by Sir Jim Rose to be implemented from September 2011 have been shelved, the government stating that it does not intend to proceed with the new primary curriculum. Instead they are committed to giving schools more freedom from unnecessary prescription and bureaucracy. They have always made clear their intention to make changes to the National Curriculum that will ensure a relentless focus on the basics and give teachers more flexibility than the proposed new primary curriculum offered. Another casualty includes Building Schools for the Future (BSF) project which is now canceled. Rt Hon Michael Gove said in the light of the public finances, it would have been irresponsible to carry on regardless with an inflexible and needlessly complex programme. The coalition has set out some of its new priorities since coming to power which include the expansion of academies throughout the education system in England. Academies are schools that are directly funded by central government and are independent of local government control. Rt Hon Michael Gove unveiled the governments new proposed Free Schools. Free Schools are all-ability state-funded schools set up in response to parental demand. These new schools will be academies, which are publicly funded independent schools, free from local authority control. They will enjoy the same freedoms as traditional academies, which include setting their own pay and conditions for staff, freedom from following the National Curriculum and the ability to change the lengths of their terms and school days. All Free Schools will be accountable like other state schools via inspections and tests. Under the new plans it will become much easier for charities, universities, businesses, educational groups, teachers and groups of parents to get involved and start new schools. Ministers are working right across Government to remove the red tape which can prevent new schools from setting up from planning laws, to the Departments own school premises rules. In my opinion, since the introduction of the 1944 Education Act, there have been some negative and positive points. For example the 1944 Butler act, after reflecting on it, you could clearly observe that it was typically biased towards to the middle / upper class families. Lower class families more often than not would end in secondary moderns achieving little or nothing. Having said this, the positive points outweighed the negative greatly as it was the start towards the National Curriculum that we have today. I believe that the 1988 Education reform act was the keystone to greatly improving the standards of education that children receive in todays society. This is because before the act, the standard of education students received was highly based on class status. Teachers also taught a range of subjects that they wished to teach as there were no set subjects so what you could be taught varied across the country. This led to many students leaving school with limited knowledge. Now, however, with the introduction of the National Curriculum, National Testing and OFSTED inspections and many other reforms after it, most students now leave school with a ample knowledge and understanding, as well as many transferable skills, such as the ability to analyse and discuss, which they can then take onto university or work and develop in the future. For the time being we will have to wait while the new government decides on its educational priorities until then we can speculate and wait. By Keith Lyons

How Far Does Behavioral Sink Go? :: Animals Environmental Wildlife Essays

How Far Does Behavioral Sink Go? If you ask any American what behavioral sink is, they more than likely won’t be able to define the term. It seems that everyone has become subject to this mysterious term, in once sense or another. Behavioral Sink, as described by the author, Tom Wolfe in the excerpt â€Å"O Rotten Gotham† from â€Å"A Forest of Voices†, is the study of how animals relate to their environment. In one of Wolfe’s studies he speaks of this behavioral sink in New York City. He talks about how overcrowding causes this. As observed by Wolfe, New Yorkers tended to be more aggressive and cold towards one another. When driving they were found to be screaming at each other because of traffic, speeding through a crowd getting aggravated and not really knowing why. They all seemed to be greatly stressed with a tendency to foster ulcers. He also studied the effects of overcrowding in Sika deer and rats. They all showed changes in behavior, even when there was plenty of food, water, and shelter due to this lack of personal space. When an autopsy was performed on the animals, it showed that their thyroids seem to enlarge, while their bodies looked genuinely healthy. The deer seemed to die of an adrenaline shock from their thyroids, due to the stress of no personal space. Wolfe seemed to think that if you did an autopsy on the deceased people in New York City, they would show the same general signs of thyroid enlargement. The interesting connection that humans have to rats is the grouping they exhibit. The leader-rats seem to take their own groups and then the average to below average rats gather together. Human aristocrats and wealthier people, like the leader rats, tend to live in suburbs and live in quieter, nicer places. The other people, like the average to below average rats, seemed to live in smaller apartments and much more crowded, less healthy areas like the slums. The average rats showed signs of violence, aggravation, homo and bi-sexuality, and all showed increasing signs of cancer and other diseases. The interesting connection here is that by my own observations, the same things seem to be happening in the world today. How Far Does Behavioral Sink Go? :: Animals Environmental Wildlife Essays How Far Does Behavioral Sink Go? If you ask any American what behavioral sink is, they more than likely won’t be able to define the term. It seems that everyone has become subject to this mysterious term, in once sense or another. Behavioral Sink, as described by the author, Tom Wolfe in the excerpt â€Å"O Rotten Gotham† from â€Å"A Forest of Voices†, is the study of how animals relate to their environment. In one of Wolfe’s studies he speaks of this behavioral sink in New York City. He talks about how overcrowding causes this. As observed by Wolfe, New Yorkers tended to be more aggressive and cold towards one another. When driving they were found to be screaming at each other because of traffic, speeding through a crowd getting aggravated and not really knowing why. They all seemed to be greatly stressed with a tendency to foster ulcers. He also studied the effects of overcrowding in Sika deer and rats. They all showed changes in behavior, even when there was plenty of food, water, and shelter due to this lack of personal space. When an autopsy was performed on the animals, it showed that their thyroids seem to enlarge, while their bodies looked genuinely healthy. The deer seemed to die of an adrenaline shock from their thyroids, due to the stress of no personal space. Wolfe seemed to think that if you did an autopsy on the deceased people in New York City, they would show the same general signs of thyroid enlargement. The interesting connection that humans have to rats is the grouping they exhibit. The leader-rats seem to take their own groups and then the average to below average rats gather together. Human aristocrats and wealthier people, like the leader rats, tend to live in suburbs and live in quieter, nicer places. The other people, like the average to below average rats, seemed to live in smaller apartments and much more crowded, less healthy areas like the slums. The average rats showed signs of violence, aggravation, homo and bi-sexuality, and all showed increasing signs of cancer and other diseases. The interesting connection here is that by my own observations, the same things seem to be happening in the world today.

Characterization, Theme, and Imagery of Ray Bradburys The Pedestrian :: Ray Bradbury, The Pedestrian

Two Works Cited Mankind has made great leaps toward progress with inventions like the television. However, as children give up reading and playing outdoors to plug into the television set, one might wonder whether it is progress or regression. In "The Pedestrian," Ray Bradbury has chosen to make a statement on the effects of these improvements. Through characterization and imagery, he shows that if mankind advances to the point where society loses its humanity, then mankind may as well cease to exist. Bradbury has elected to reflect the humanity of mankind in the character of Mr. Mead. First of all, Mr. Mead is associated with warm, bright light, which is symbolic of soul. If, during his night walks, people are alerted to his presence, "lights ... click on" (104). In essence, the embodiment of humanity is about. Mr. Mead's house beams "loud yellow illumination" (105). Since literature not only records the history of mankind but also evokes deep feeling among men, it brings this occupation close to the heart of humanity. Third, Mr. Mead is close to nature. Something as simple as taking a walk is "what Mr. Leonard Mead most dearly loved to do" (104). Man is most human when surrounded by the elements. Also, Mr. Mead's shadow is described as the "shadow of a hawk," relating him to a wild and free-spirited bird (104). Last, Mr. Mead is brought into a parallel with the most tender and human holiday observed in the western world when the rush of cold air makes his lungs "blaze like a Chr istmas tree" (104). The combination of these elements makes Mr. Mead a true representative of humanity. As a contrast to the humanity portrayed by Mr. Mead, Bradbury has mirrored the characteristics of progress in the police car. The car, as well as Mr. Mead, is associated with light. The light of the car, however, displays the absence of humanity. Rather than the "warm" light of Mr. Mead, the car possesses a "fierce" and "fiery" light that holds humanity "fixed" like a "museum specimen"--something from the past that should be looked at behind an impersonal plate of glass (105-06). When not holding humanity captive, the car's lights revert to "flashing ... dim lights," showing the absence of any real soul (106). The car is representative of several modern inventions, thereby embodying mankind's advancement. It is itself a robot, and it speaks in a "phonograph voice" through a "radio throat" (105-06). Characterization, Theme, and Imagery of Ray Bradbury's The Pedestrian :: Ray Bradbury, The Pedestrian Two Works Cited Mankind has made great leaps toward progress with inventions like the television. However, as children give up reading and playing outdoors to plug into the television set, one might wonder whether it is progress or regression. In "The Pedestrian," Ray Bradbury has chosen to make a statement on the effects of these improvements. Through characterization and imagery, he shows that if mankind advances to the point where society loses its humanity, then mankind may as well cease to exist. Bradbury has elected to reflect the humanity of mankind in the character of Mr. Mead. First of all, Mr. Mead is associated with warm, bright light, which is symbolic of soul. If, during his night walks, people are alerted to his presence, "lights ... click on" (104). In essence, the embodiment of humanity is about. Mr. Mead's house beams "loud yellow illumination" (105). Since literature not only records the history of mankind but also evokes deep feeling among men, it brings this occupation close to the heart of humanity. Third, Mr. Mead is close to nature. Something as simple as taking a walk is "what Mr. Leonard Mead most dearly loved to do" (104). Man is most human when surrounded by the elements. Also, Mr. Mead's shadow is described as the "shadow of a hawk," relating him to a wild and free-spirited bird (104). Last, Mr. Mead is brought into a parallel with the most tender and human holiday observed in the western world when the rush of cold air makes his lungs "blaze like a Chr istmas tree" (104). The combination of these elements makes Mr. Mead a true representative of humanity. As a contrast to the humanity portrayed by Mr. Mead, Bradbury has mirrored the characteristics of progress in the police car. The car, as well as Mr. Mead, is associated with light. The light of the car, however, displays the absence of humanity. Rather than the "warm" light of Mr. Mead, the car possesses a "fierce" and "fiery" light that holds humanity "fixed" like a "museum specimen"--something from the past that should be looked at behind an impersonal plate of glass (105-06). When not holding humanity captive, the car's lights revert to "flashing ... dim lights," showing the absence of any real soul (106). The car is representative of several modern inventions, thereby embodying mankind's advancement. It is itself a robot, and it speaks in a "phonograph voice" through a "radio throat" (105-06).

Racism & Freedom Writers

When I was reading the section of Racism in Multicultural Class, the facilitator’s way of handling the subject â€Å"Racism† reminds me ‘’Freedom Writers† the movie, which is based on a book of Erin Gruwell -a new teacher at Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach. She chose the school because of its integration program, but she did not expect a class consist of students who have racist problem. Students splitted into different racial groups, who are ready for fighting, hate each other, but also they hate Erin more than anybody else.On the other hand, senior teachers of the school just ignored the students and they did not make an effort to pave for solving racist problems. Somehow teachers believed that students come to school because of their parents’ insistency and they are not eager to study. Actually, teachers did not want to budge from their privileged positions. When Erin attempted to take a step for the good of students, she is told to do just her job –train them discipline and to obey the rules.Instead being a commanding teacher, Erin wanted to provide a safe space for students to express their feeling, so she asked them to write their own diaries as an assignment, which is not graded. Despite all the resistance, students started to develop trust to her and wrote everything about what it feels to be ‘other’. After they share their narratives and started to communicate with each other.They develop more sensitiveness and interest to other ethnicities by engaging class activities such as visiting the Museum Of Tolerance, and reading the stories from history The Diary of Anne Frank. Erin was happy to see the transformation of them. Before, the students did not have any motivation to success and refuse to interact with other groups because of they do not have hope, but after they develop awareness about tolerance and importance of each life. Erin gave these children what they are not offered befor e. Respect is the key of the racism problems.

Learning Theory and Behaviorism

Learning Theory and BehaviorismOctober 16, 2012 Wundt’s Structuralism: †¢ Goal was to analyze the structure of conscious experience into its elements and components and their associative relationships. It was a form of metal chemistry †¢ Developed of the technique introspection, which requires trained introspectionists to look inward and describe/analyze the contents of their experience to a stimulus word †¢ Edward Titchner brought structuralism to the U. S. Cornell university listing 1000’s of elements of consciousness William James: †¢ James studied with Wundt, but rejected a static description of the elements of the mind. James thought the mind and consciousness to be adaptive function that envolved just as any other adaptive function †¢ Therefore, proper study of the mind is to relate its characteristics to purposeful, adaptive behavior. †¢ Hence the rise of functionalism. James was professor of psychology at Harvard Principles of Psych ology: †¢ James wrote this Titles were stream of thought, memory, reasoning, emotion, will, effects of experience Edward Thorndike: †¢ In the late 1800s at Harvard, drawing from James and functionalism and also Darwin’s ideas of evolution of species and their adaption to environment, he studied the progress cats made in solving a puzzle by learning a desired that is instrumental in bringing about desired outcome †¢ Notion of stimulus-response (reflexive vs. rational) was already firmly in the thinking of leading philosophers at the time, in the field of education Ivan Pavlov: In 1904, Pavlov received the Nobel prize for his work on the chemistry of digestive juices in saliva †¢ His work with dogs required gathering large amounts of saliva for chemical analyses. Done through a tube surgically implanted in dog’s salivary gland and then simulating salvation with dried meat powder Unconditional†¦. †¢ Dried meat powder is an unconditional stimu lus 9UCS) in that it always triggers the response of salivating. We call the response unconditional response (UCR).Needs no learning †¢ Many pleasure, pain, and emotional responses and tastes and smells are unconditional Psychic Reflex: †¢ Pavlov and associates observed that dogs would often begin salivating before they were harnessed and before the meat powder †¢ Pavlov switched his path of study this psychic reflex †¢ Studies are among the most famous in psychology. Type of learning he describes is known as â€Å"classical condition† or â€Å"glandular conditioning† Conditional†¦. Stimulus in effect becomes a signal that the dog will be harnessed, presented with the meant, and will be salivating. †¢ The dog must perceive this connection. Its meaning and power as a signal depends on its reliability. Its meaning and power are conditional on its place in time and its frequency in the sequence, becoming conditional stimulus (CS). The psychic reflex becomes a Conditional response. Prior to perception of a connection to the UCS, all events are neutral in meaning with respect to UCS.Conditioning involves responding to a CS with a CR in anticipation of the occurrence of the UCS-UCR pair. Learning: †¢ Conditional response (CR) is the learned response to the conditional stimulus (CS) which gained meaning to the extent it anticipates the UCS-UCR pain. The CR is potentially a adaptive response, a preparatory response †¢ The UCS-UCR pair do not re-occur, then the power of the CS to trigger a CR is weakened. The CS no linger bring about the CR-extinction. Higher order conditioning: The CS must occur fairly closely in time to the UCS-UCR pain- interstimulus interval (CS & UCS) †¢ However once a CS has gained the power to anticipate the UCS, other neutral stimuli close in time to the CS will become conditioned. A CS signal the next CS, which signals the next CS and so on until the original CS signals the UCS-UCR pai n-higher order conditioning. Historical context: †¢ The pressure of universal education brought pressures for psychologists and educators to study the processes of learning †¢ Alfred Binet (advocate from France) developed a test to measure abilities so as to place students in the proper grade.Concepts of ‘intelligence’ and IQ soon followed †¢ Darwin’s theory of evolution suggests that as a species of human beings evolved from lower forms of animal life. Though the gap between animals and human life remained wide in terms of language, thought, and civilization, question was just how intelligent are animals, are they closer to humans are intelligent than animals lower †¢ Industrial revolution; post revolutionary Russia and USA saw an ability to take classless societies and make it a brighter and stronger future, training an efficient workforce.John B. Watson: 1878-1958 †¢ Studied animal intelligence. He sought to move psychology more toward the empirical, deterministic physical sciences †¢ Empirical, means of the senses of implying data used in the science is observable, public, and objectively measured. Determinism implies a search for theories of cause and effect, identification of Aristotle’s immediate cause Behaviorists in control: †¢ Reshaping human society in the US and Soviet Union Philosophical behaviorism: belief that consciousness was an epiphenomenon †¢ Methodological behaviors: belief that observable objective measures of behavior are better over introspective self-report Operant Conditioning: †¢ Skinner says the probability of a response to the correct stimulus is more or less equal to that of any other response to other available stimuli. If the response to a stimulus brings about desired consequence, then the sequence of stimulus-response more likely repeated. Trial and error is as en equal probability for all possible responses on Trial 1 Terms: †¢ Reinforcer: sequence o f stimulus-response consequence; makes stronger the bond between the stimulus and the response †¢ Operant or instrumental response: behavior which bring about the consequence †¢ Skinner prefers to understand reinforcement as that which changes the probability of the response to the stimulus Reinforcer vs. Reinforcement: Reinforce is an event, a consequence that follows the response to a stimulus and is perceived to be connected to the response †¢ Reinforcement is a state of being that arises from the act of consuming or enjoying †¢ Positive reinforce is a positive rewarding consequence to response to a stimulus; all is good and you’ll do it again †¢ Negative reinforer is a painful consequence to the response to a stimulus; decreases probability of the response to that stimulus †¢ In negative reinforcement sequence is stimulus, response, negative reinforcerm escape response(which removes negative reinforce) positive reinforce.Total package: negati ve reinforcement. Probability of an escape/avoidance response is increased and the 1st response is decreased. Primary and secondary reinforcer: †¢ Primary: natural; one that does not have to be learned.Satisfy biological needs like hunger, thirst †¢ Secondary: consequence whose value must be learned through experience; come through socialization and subsequent learning †¢ Primary positive reinforcer: satisfies a natural need (food if you’re hungry, water if thirsty) †¢ Primary negative reinforcer: causes physical pain and discomfort (injury, illness) †¢ Secondary positive reinforcer: satisfies social and psychological needs (good grade, smile, kiss) †¢ Secondary negative reinforcer: socially punishing (failing grade, public slander, rejection letter) Classical and instrumental combined: A primary positive reinforcer=unconditional stimulus that follows some behavioral conditional response to conditional stimulus. †¢ Conditional stimulus is a secondary positive reinforcer Contingency: †¢ connection between a stimulus, response, and a consequence. One perceives the stimulus and performs the response expected †¢ extinction: when stimulus no longer elicits a response b/c reinforcer no longer appears †¢ superstition: one perceives a contingency when in fact there is none †¢ helplessness: perceiving no contingency between a stimulus and a response nd any desirable consequence, making no response †¢ fixed ratio: pattern is predictable †¢ variable ratio: pattern is random Resistance to extinction: †¢ skinner defines strength of learning as how resistance the acquired response to a stimulus is to extinction †¢ variable ratio schedule maintains responding far longer than fixed ratio †¢ fixed interval schedule gives reinforcer tot the last response as a certain interval of time elapses Psychological and emotional disorders A behavioral analysis of psychological & emotional disorders inc ludes the assumption that the symptoms (inappropriate behaviors, thoughts, or emotions) are acquired in a learning environment (i. e. not due to genetics or physiological dysfunctions or unconscious conflicts). †¢ Behavior therapy tries to extinguish the inappropriate responses to stimuli & train appropriate responses. Behavioral analysis of a phobia †¢ Phobia = learned, â€Å"acquired fear† o Intense fear or anxiety reaction to an event, classically conditioned by exposure to frightening, threatening, or painful stimulus. Instrumentally conditioned escape/avoidance behavior that takes very few trials, maybe only one trial to learn Obsessive compulsive disorder †¢ Obsessive state = intense drive state, often accompanied by images, thoughts, memories, desires, etc. related to drive state an identity †¢ Compulsive = behavior that corrects for or deals w/ the threat to the driving identity. Ritualized by repetition & success at keeping anxiety at bay. †¢ Compulsive behavior may originate in two ways: o 1.Person once praised for something & now seeks praise to maintain good feeling o 2. Person once punished for something & thus becomes anxious when this event occurs and does whatever to avoid punishment Behavioral analysis of anxiety and conflict †¢ The conflict of drives, stimuli, responses & consequences will result in indecision, inefficiency, & anxiety. Dollard & miller list the following: †¢ An approach-approach conflict: where two mutually exclusive positive consequences follow a response to two similar stimuli.The greater the emotional importance of the choice & the greater the finality (or temporal impact) of the choice, the greater the conflict: o Choosing whom to marry vs. choosing which friend to call o Choosing a book to read vs. choosing a film to watch on a weekend night o Choosing a car/house to buy vs. choosing a brand of frozen pizza to buy in the store †¢ An avoidance-avoidance conflict: where two mu tually exclusive negative consequences follow a response to two similar stimuli. Resolved in a manner similar to approach-approach. Choosing to cope with knee pain or having knee surgery o Choosing to write a paper or study for a test o Choosing any math course †¢ An approach-avoidance conflict: where two aspects of the â€Å"same† stimulus are in contradiction, one positive, one negative. o Enjoying the company of a friend, who also tends to get loud & obnoxious at parties. The conflict arises when the friend asks you to go to the party with her/him. o Contemplating a trip to Europe, but you have a fear of flying Behavioral analysis of anxiety & conflict The tension in approach-avoidance conflict in interpersonal relationships often forces a person to create a â€Å"safe-zone† in which, on the one hand, the person is not so far away from the other such that one needs to approach, but yet, on the other hand, the person is not so close that one needs to avoid the o ther. †¢ Often the zone is defined or verbalized in terms of emotional involvement, interpersonal distance, intimacy, time together, mode of communication, etc. â€Å"were just friends†¦Ã¢â‚¬  meaning not lovers, cousins, or strangers. The safe zone evolves. It is negotiated b/t the two persons in the relationship to their mutual satisfaction, though true mutuality is often difficult to achieve. Also, conditions may change it over time, especially due to factors such as distance, other relationships, new info, etc. Depression †¢ Result of a generalized learned helplessness. †¢ Helplessness learned when most instrumental escape or avoidance responses to a primary or secondary negative reinforce fail to bring about relief through a cessation of the punishment, discomfort.Inactivity/apathy describe lack of instrumental responses; pain, numbness, sadness are the classically conditioned emotional responses. Dissociative disorder †¢ Dissociative disorders, such as dissociative identity disorder (split personality) involves learning a new repertory of behaviors, thoughts, & emotions that are appropriate (and therefore reinforced) in a new environment along side of a previously learned repertory of behaviors, thoughts and emotions that are appropriate in a different prior environment †¢ Prior environment associated w/ punishmentSchizophrenia †¢ double bind theory of schizophrenia: child raised in a home environment of confusing/contradictory messages from at least one volatile, toxic parent. The child’s behavior is not predictably right/good, wrong/bad. The child grows up never sure or relaxed, but stressed and anxious. Child emerges chronic mistrust of his or her ability to behave, think, etc. he/she learns to behave as if disconnected from reality B. F. Skinner †¢ wrote beyond freedom and dignity – we’re already living in a behavioral society.