March 2011 Archives

TRAPPED IN AN ELEVATOR FOR 41 HOURS

(Thanks to Ashley G. for sending)

"In the punishment system, people are held responsible for their actions by being punished for doing things that are especially wrong. In this way, the punishment system displays a kind of respect for people's choices. The criminal is treated as being responsible for having done the thing that is especially wrong."

http://pages.pomona.edu/~mjg14747/034-2007/Morris.shtml

After reading this blog, how wuold you view this issue of the right to be punished from a behavioral perspective?

"Fort Worth, TX - The reward system for university professors should be changed to offer more incentives for excellence in teaching and service and to place less emphasis on traditional research and publishing.

"Faculty do not perceive excellent teaching or service to their professions as being as important as research in influencing decisions on promotion, tenure, or merit pay," said Valleau Wilkie, Jr., executive director of the Sid W. Richardson Foundation, which sponsors the forum."

http://www.sidrichardson.org/pubreward.htm

How does this relate to what we have been studying about behavior modification?

How do the contingencies we place on individuals shape the behaviors they emit?

What are your thoughts about the University Reward System?