Study Questions

Skinner, B.F. (1953). Government and Law. (Chapter 22). Science and Human
Behavior, New York: The Macmillan Company. Pages 333-349.

Reading Overview

Government is pervasive in our lives – we have local government, state

government, and federal. It influences virtually everything we do every day. Here
is Skinner’s explanation of why government is set up as it is, how it uses
antecedents and consequences, and how the laws that it promulgates fit into a
scientific explanation of behavior. Pretty interesting stuff!

Questions and Comments

1. What is the purpose of this section of his book? 333

2. Summarize Skinner’s point about the consistency of the view of individual

behavior across the different agencies of government, psychotherapy,
religion, etc. 334

3. What is Skinner’s definition of government? Why does he say it is so? 335-

336

4. Describe some of the techniques that government uses to control human

behavior. 336-338

5. Describe the contingencies of laws on human behavior, and the relationship

between human behavior and the law makers. 339-341

6. Describe the different conceptions about human behavior between scientists

and lawmakers. 341-344

7. How do governments use economic variables to influence behavior? 344-346

8. Describe the issue of counter control, and the point Skinner is trying to make
about how better understanding of human behavior may lead to less
government control. 347-349