The Range of Silence

William Hazlitt (1778-1830)
"Silence is one great art of conversation."

Silence about something may have a long history ...  Since 1984, I have been
trying to show scientists the significance of locomotion in operant laboratories - so far to no avail,  I'm afraid.  Nevertheless, on July 27, 2002, the silence did, at last, break ... one scientist responded: 
                 "You seem at times (now and in the past) to be saying that movement in space is critical to the actual definition of behavior and, that if we did more measurements of movement, we would find out things that we have not already learned in other ways.  That would certainly be a defensible position - but it would have to be elaborated more convincingly. What is it, for example, that we might see about behavior that we have not seen with the more standard techniques , and what might we be able to - that we have not become able to do already?"
Perhaps - together - we may now relay this message, 'once and for all', literally.
Because current definitions of punishment are still based on responding from stationary animals, scientists see a lot of abstract "behavior" and not enough of their subjects.
Thus they miss the feelings caused by punishments - which the rest of the world talks about every day - panic, terror, despair, et cetera, and in general,  fear. 
I no longer see anything wrong with saying  fearful animals withdraw from dangerous stimuli.  This is certainly healthier than standing still ... waiting for contact with electricity (for example) or trying to avoid grid shock - like the rat lying on its back, while using its foot to produce food - and then likening this to "Breakfast in Bed".  
Truth to tell, I felt no shock when I saw this the first time. In fact, I smiled with
amusement.  But in 1984 after my hypothetical graphs, I froze:
"How could I have forgotten rats cannot escape - where can they go?
And the reasons I kept silent --- did not talk to professors of their errors and of 
'unnecessary cruelty' were:  I knew them as humane persons --- I  feared I might cause them a heart attack or something and could  not  find the words.
Today, I feel only sadness that 18 years have elapsed ... and I still seem unable to clarify why directions of movement are critical - not just for defining 'behavior' and 'punishment' but also for teaching what 'social reinforcement' entails.
Oblivious to the directions of locomotion,  we overlook 'mutual attraction' ... interactive phenomena that would be observed ... were scientists to work with mobile animals in expanded laboratories ... and record  multiple accumulative curves.

Within the field of application ...   It goes without saying, prolonged silence can devastate as punishment - and yet it is also normal and polite and healthy reinforcement.
For instance, talking to people who silently listen and then agree with what you think, does wonders for attention and friendship.  In such cases, Silence is Golden  
                Normally, a few seconds of silence is not frightening and don't count as punishment.  However,  in situations where someone refuses to talk for the sake of friends, family or country, keeping silent may be positively heroic.
                Then again, listening for hours can be a real effort, depending on so
many factorswe needn't go into them. Although even extensive listening can be
so enjoyable ... time flies  ...  we forget where we are and jump at the chance to hear it again ... music or comedy ... we could say we're enchanted, or carried away.
                And while on the subject of music, there are conductors to consider; they stand with their back to the audience ... lift hands and baton ,,, they wait until
coughs and murmurings stop; and only then give a sign to begin ... and of course,
this is the signal or stimulus for the audience to listen and concentrate ...
Was any of that derived from laboratory analysis, with animals? 
My answer is, Yes it was - and No, it was not.
                If hypothetical experiments with a non-existent rat are acceptable for discussion, I can explain what I did, elaborate what I imagined and defend my position to show the connection with a functional analysis of language.
                On the other hand, should imagination be rejected as "private business", then may I suggest scientists replicate voluntary, uncoerced, 'movement in space'. 
                 I don't see how else we could discuss 'verbal behavior'  or any innovative
treatments developed from the graphs ... there must be many different ways to explain where they come from.
                 In my view, basically all paths lead back to Pavlov, Skinner and Sidman. 
As for 'successive approximation towards a distant goal', let us consider this:
"A strong passion for any object will ensure success, for the desire of the end will
point out the means." William Hazlitt

Revised: 22 April, 2011
Revised: 8 October, 2011

A Generation Gap

27 October, 2003
"Monkey Business" on the Internet, translated from the Hebrew into English

Begin with a cage where there are five monkeys. Inside the cage, hang a banana on a string and place a flight of steps underneath it.  Within a short time, one monkey will start to climb the steps in the direction of the banana. The moment he touches the banana, douse the rest of the monkeys with a stream of cold water.
After some time, another monkey will try again. And once more: a stream of cold water on all the others. Very quickly, whenever one monkey tries to climb the stairs, the others will attempt to prevent this.
Now remove the cold water.
Take one monkey out of the cage and replace him with a naive one. The new monkey will see the banana and want to climb the steps. To his astonishment and horror, all the other animals will attack him! An additional attempt  or two soon show him very clearly, that when he tries to climb the stairs, the others will overpower him.
Now take another animal from the original group and enter a new one. This new monkey will approach the stairs and be attacked. The former naive monkey will join the attack with much enthusiasm!
In the same way, replace the third monkey. And the fourth. And the fifth.
Each time the newest member tries to reach the stairs, he will be overpowered. Most of those who attack have no idea why they don't let the animal climb the steps, nor why they participate in the attack. After replacing the five original monkeys - no one present has experienced the stream of cold water. Nevertheless, not one of them will approach the stairs to reach the banana.
And why?
Because, to the best of their information, this is the way that business is done - always.
And so, my friends, starts a policy within a society.


Do you feel the foregoing is sad or hopeless? Perhaps something has been overlooked?