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From: colonel@sunybcs.UUCP (Col. G. L. Sicherman)
Newsgroups: net.kids
Subject: Re: Positive Reinforcement
Message-ID: <2700@sunybcs.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 4-Jan-86 14:01:21 EST
Article-I.D.: sunybcs.2700
Posted: Sat Jan  4 14:01:21 1986
Date-Received: Sun, 5-Jan-86 05:47:44 EST
References: <283@h.cs.cmu.edu> <625@cylixd.UUCP> <2752@ut-ngp.UUCP>
Organization: Travelers' Advisory
Lines: 38

[Negative reinforcement for the bug]

> Well, the child who is originally reinforced for positive behavior by
> means of a smile together with something like a cookie comes to
> associate the cookie (primary reinforcer) with the smile or hug
> (secondary reinforcer).  Then the smile becomes reinforcing
> because it has been associated with good things like cookies; this is
> why it's called a secondary reinforcer, because it only reinforces
> after such association.  (A newborn baby does not "know" that a smile
> is good, does not automatically seek smiles, but DOES automatically
> seek food. So a smile-as-reinforcer has to be taught,
> food-as-reinforcer doesn't have to be taught.)

I think ill of developmental psychology in general, and of this
instance of it in particular.  My objections:

1. Food is good in its own right only when you're hungry.  At other
   times it's an artificial incentive.

2. Children learn very young that smiles are good.

3. When the child behaves well, the smile comes naturally; the cooky
   does not.  It's typical of behavioral "science" to regard the
   child as part of the experiment and the parent as standing
   outside it.  The child knows better.
_._

"On behalf of Bogopolis, I am honored to accept this ... Wait a minute!
  This is not the World's Largest Diamond!"
"Of course not, Captain BUFFOON!  It's a big chunk of VOOPTONITE!"
"Auggggh! Urggggh! Gasp! ... And you're not Commander Pinkney, the Brazil-
  ian explorer! You're ... you're ... you're ..."
"Ha HO ho haw! HAW HAW yak yak yak!"
-- 
Col. G. L. Sicherman
UU: ...{rocksvax|decvax}!sunybcs!colonel
CS: colonel@buffalo-cs
BI: csdsicher@sunyabva