Assignment task: I Am Robot?
For this discussion, imagine that you have come across the following opinion piece in the local newspaper:
"Behaviorism should no longer be taught to psychologists. The idea that human beings can be programmed by use of reinforcement and punishment denies us our free will. We are more than mere robots. In addition, we are more than mere animals-just because something works on animals does not mean it applies to human beings."
In your response:
1) Explain the basic concepts of operant, or classical, conditioning.
2) Explain whether conditioning means that free will does or does not exist.
3) Does research on animals apply to humans?