[From Rick Marken (951209.1130)]
Shannon Williams (951208) --
Poor Rick!
I'm OK, thanks. I'm just giving the reinforcement theorists a hard
time. I know a reinforcer when I see one. Heck, I'm a child of the
'60s, the decade of my four favorite reinforcers: drugs and sex and
rock and roll;-)
Some things are beyond demonstration. They just have to be believed to
be explained.
I believe. Halleluja, I do believe.
I just want to see the part of the service where the people come
up on stage, throw away their crutches and walk under the control
of reinforcement;-)
ROTFL!
Is this some anagram of the reinforcment religion, like IXYOS or
whatever Xtians put in those little fish on their cars?
Seriously, Shannon. Thanks for the post. Maybe it is not reasonable
for me to expect reinforcemnt theorists to be willing to test their
beliefs.But then I still wonder how ex-reinforcement theorists, like
Bruce Abbott, were able to leave the faith. Bruce (if you're
listening), what was it that convinced you that PCT might provide
a better explanation of behavior than reinforcement theory?
Best
Rick