We have applied the work of Abraham Maslow, albeit hypothetically, to education. Your challenge now is to apply the work of Skinner to a real-world situation. In order to learn more about Skinner, you can refer to the text book, Images of Society, p. 80. You can also use the text’s website. Use the link on the left-hand side of the blog, click on the Introduction Link, and then go to Pioneers of Psychology. If you find any good sites of your own please pass them on. As noted, you may work in pairs, but must make your own posting – you may even want to add an image of Skinner.
Note: Your post should include a brief – very brief – overview of Skinner’s theory of Behaviourism.
In small groups, imagine that you are charged with the task rehabilitating young offenders, who have been convicted of committing various crimes (e.g., petty theft, assault, even manslaughter and murder). Rather than simply locking them up, design a program, which would rehabilitate these individuals in contained and controlled environment. Be creative; but remember you want to reduce recidivism (the tendency to re-offend) to a minimum for 14-17 year-old boys, the group you are dealing with, and which, statistically, has a high propensity to commit crime. Lay out the key points of your program below, giving your rationale for each program point beneath it. Once you have done, explain why your program will work. Do you think your attempt a behaviour modification will be successful in the long-run? Would you advocate using it in Ontario
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