Skinner believed people are not responsible for their actions, because:
a. their instincts of aggression are inborn.
b. they operate in predictable ways, controlled by external variables.
c. the inherent tendency of the human species is selfishness.
d. of the concept of free will.
ANS: B
FEEDBACK: From Skinner's scholarly writings to his popular novel about a utopian society based on operant conditioning his message is the same: Behavior is controlled by reinforcers. In a sense, this means that it is pointless to blame or punish people for their actions. In this view, a dictator who orders the mass killing of thousands of people, or a serial killer who murders a dozen, can no more be held responsible for their actions than can a driverless car that plunges down a hill. Both operate in lawful, predictable ways, controlled by external variables.
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