The Power of Reinforcement (Alternatives in Psychology) (SUNY series, Alternatives in Psychology)

This is one of the best books ever written because it explains so clearly the reasons for behavior and how to effectively manipulate any behavior including problem behavior. This book contains the answers for all the problems troubling mankind. Reinforcement is the closest thing to magic that has ever been found in regard to controlling behavior and therefore controlling people. This is very very powerful technology and its clear why so many feared Skinner and his ilk; reinforcement is so effective at solving behavior problems. The teaching/child abuse industry, the legal pyscho-dope-medical industry, the street dope industry, the political bosses, the assisted living industry, the lawyer industry, the corrections industry, supervisors/slave drivers, junk food industry, nicotine and alcohol industry and all other similar parasites that thrive, prosper and depend upon not people not solving problem behaviors and financially enjoy the misery of hundreds of millions of people with problem behaviors have to hope that the technology of reinforcement will never be properly applied to solve those problem behaviors. If reinforcement is properly applied, those parasites will have to find honest employment or become extinct. In this book you will find the basic simple answers to any behavioral questions that are troubling you. However be WARNED: If you're one of the many parasites, like a professional punisher a.k.a. public fool system child abuser a.k.a. teacher or principal, you will probably not like the answers to educational behavioral problems contained in this book. You parasites will find out that you are the problem rather than your victims and that your behavior and the behavior of your industry creates and maintains more and more victims. If you are a parasite that wants to give up abusing children, old people, "criminals", family members, friends, neighbors, employees, etc. then congratulations, get this wonderful book and get ready to have the most fun ever by helping yourself and others to solve behavior problems and have a really wonderful life. Content: pt. 1: Myths and misrepresentations of reinforcement. Reinforcement as "rat psychology" -- Insults and mischievous misrepresentations : M & Ms for the retarded -- Carrot-and-stick control, bribery, and value -- The myth that "extrinsic rewards undermine intrinsic interest" -- The reality of extrinsic rewards and intrinsic motivation -- Reinforcement crushes creativity -- Reinforcement creates creativity -- The myth that imitation and instruction following invalidate reinforcement theory -- pt. 2: For better or worse, in sickness and in health : reinforcement in action. Reinforcement of achievement and underachievement -- Reinforcement in education -- Reinforcement in drug use, abuse, and treatment -- Reinforcement and crime, misconduct, and correction -- Reinforcement in the cause, course, and correction of depression, chronic pain, and illness -- Appendix 1: The selection of behavior -- Appendix 2: Basic terms. According to Stephen Ray Flora, reinforcement is a very powerful tool for improving the human condition despite often being dismissed as regarding people as less than human and as overly simplistic. This book addresses and defends the use of reinforcement principles against a wide variety of attacks. Countering the myths, criticisms, and misrepresentations of reinforcement, including false claims that reinforcement is rat psychology, the author shows that building reinforcement theory on basic laboratory research is a strength, not a weakness, and allows unlimited applications to human situations as it promotes well-being and productivity. Also examined are reinforcement contingencies, planned or accidental, as they shape behavioral patterns and repertoires in a positive way.

Author Biography: Stephen Ray Flora is Associate Professor of Psychology at Youngstown State University.

2004 CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title According to Stephen Ray Flora, reinforcement is a very powerful tool for improving the human condition despite often being dismissed as regarding people as less than human and as "overly simplistic." This book addresses and defends the use of reinforcement principles against a wide variety of attacks. Countering the myths, criticisms, and misrepresentations of reinforcement, including false claims that reinforcement is "rat psychology," the author shows that building reinforcement theory on basic laboratory research is a strength, not a weakness, and allows unlimited applications to human situations as it promotes well-being and productivity. Also examined are reinforcement contingencies, planned or accidental, as they shape behavioral patterns and repertoires in a positive way. "According to Stephen Ray Flora, reinforcement is a very powerful tool for improving the human condition despite often being dismissed as regarding people as less than human and as "overly simplistic." This book addresses and defends the use of reinforcement principles against a wide variety of attacks. Countering the myths, criticisms, and misrepresentations of reinforcement, including false claims that reinforcement is "rat psychology," the author shows that building reinforcement theory on basic laboratory research is a strength, not a weakness, and allows unlimited applications to human situations as it promotes well-being and productivity. Also examined are reinforcement contingencies, planned or accidental, as they shape behavioral patterns and repertories in a positive way."--Jacket Stephen Ray Flora. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 225-244) And Indexes.