Psychology Discussion 6

This assignment consists of three discussion board posts focusing on behaviorism and its implications. The first post asks whether elementary school children should receive material rewards for performance and cooperation, drawing on principles of behaviorism. The second post explores the extent to which behaviorism reduces human behavior to rewards and punishment, questioning the existence of free will. The final post examines the relationship between media violence and individual behavior, prompting reflection on potential solutions. Each post requires a one-page response with single-line spacing and a quote from Chapter 7 of a specified text.

Discussion 6.1
Topic:
Instructions: 1 page with, Single Line Spacing, Must have “Quote” from text (Chapter 7)
Should elementary school children receive material rewards for performance and cooperation? Imagine
that you are a parent and that you have a child in the first grade. You have received a notice from the
principal of the school that a program of tangible rewards (buttons, stickers, stars, bags of popcorn,
cookies) is being considered. The notice compares tangible rewards for the children with the pay adults
get for work. From what we know about behaviorism, is this a good idea? Explain why the extensive
use of tangible rewards may backfire in this situation
Discussion 6.2
Topic:
Instructions: 1 page with, Single Line Spacing, Must have “Quote” from text (Chapter 7)
Answer the following questions as a discussion post:
 Does behaviorism effectively reduce the control of human behavior to nothing more than the
product of rewards and punishment?
 Do you agree or disagree with Skinner that humans have no free will and are simply products of
their environment?
 What role does Skinner's behaviorism have in how we learn?
Discussion 6.3
Topic:
Instructions: 1 page with, Single Line Spacing, Must have “Quote” from text (Chapter 7)
Go to page 250 of your eText and read the section "Taking Psychology with You." Then address the
following questions:
 Does violence in the media make you violent?
 What should be done, if anything, about media violence?