Countercontrol

Countercontrol

Countercontrol is a term used by Dr. B.F. Skinner in 1953 as a functional class in the analysis of social behavior. [1] The foundation for countercontrol is that human behavior is both a function of the environment and a source of control over it. Control is fundamental in conceptual, experimental and applied behavior analysis, as it is fundamental in all experimental science. To study functional relations in behavior and environment, one must manipulate (control) environmental variables to study their effect in behavior. Countercontrol can be defined as human operant behavior as a response to social aversive control. The individual that is exposed to aversive control may try to oppose controlling attempts by escaping, attacking, or passively resisting. Control and Countercontrol are often found in temporary equilibrium before the testing variable takes control of the aversive environment or becomes controlled by it. [2]

Countercontrol is a way in which individuals regain behavioral freedom when faced with aversive controlling attempts of others.

There are two types of countercontrol:

Countercontrol is mostly avoidance or escape behavior, thus, this behavior class is only unique insofar as the behaver is (a) confronted with some form of aversive interpersonal or social controlling stimulation and (b) responds to oppose control rather than to reinforce it by "giving in”. [3]

Implications and importance:

  • Human freedom or free will; Countercontrolling behavior as a marker of freedom (Elimination of aversive behavior is a measure of human freedom, hence reduced occurrence of countercontrol is, to an extent, a measure of freedom).
  • Social Control: Importance of avenues of effective countercontrol since institutions of social control such as religion, government, and education rely heavily on aversive control. These avenues will be available if control is conspicuous and if there is a balance between control and countercontrol.
  • Control of environmentountercontrol provides a way to analyze how behavers control the environment. (The foundation for countercontrol is that human behavior is both a function of the environment and a source of control over it.)
  • Bullying: Countercontrol can help to direct efforts to the specific sources of socially mediated aversive control. With countercontrol, behavior analysts can also highlight positive contributions of a behavioral approach by recognizing that everyone has the potential to overcome socially based aversive attempts at control.[4]
  • Teaching and parenting: In cases involving noncompliance, malicious destruction, and opposition, countercontrol can identify sources of aversive control (e.g. Students who countercontrol teachers or children who countercontrol parents).

The key to reducing the occurrence of countercontrol is to work hard at reducing the degree to which we try to control students' actions. [5]

Countercontrol is mentioned in About Behaviorism. It is also mentioned in Skinner's Technology of Teacher.

References

  1. ^ "Countercontrol: What Do The Children Say? by Timothy A. Carey". http://spi.sagepub.com/cgi/content/refs/26/5/595. Retrieved 28 September 2011. 
  2. ^ "Avoid the Countercontrol of Applied Behaviour Analysis." by L. Miller Keith". http://bf4dv7zn3u.search.serialssolutions.com/?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004. Retrieved 10 October 2011. 
  3. ^ "Countercontrol in Behavior Analysis by Dennis J. Delprato". http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2731607/. Retrieved 28 September 2011. 
  4. ^ "Countercontrol in Behavior Analysis by Dennis J. Delprato". http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2731607/. Retrieved 28 September 2011. 
  5. ^ "Countercontrol: A New Look at Some Old Problems by Carey, Timothy A.; Bourbon, W. Thomas". http://vnweb.hwwilsonweb.com.myaccess.library.utoronto.ca/hww/results/external_link_maincontentframe.jhtml?_DARGS=/hww/results/results_common.jhtml.44. Retrieved 28 September 2011. 




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