soc 169 10/16

Introduction

  • Discussion on school incentives and collective rewards in education.

  • Anecdotes about group activities like rewarding students with trips to SeaWorld for good grades.

Behavioral Principles and Conditioning

  • Positive and Negative Responses:

    • Positive responses increase behavior frequency.

    • Negative responses decrease behavior frequency.

  • Development of associations and habits over time (e.g., associating candy with reward).

Matching Law

  • Introduced by B.F. Skinner.

  • Components of the Matching Law:

    • The law examines the relationship between the value of rewards and the probability of obtaining them.

  • Key Criteria:

    • Likelihood of Success:

    • Example: Hunting a rabbit has a success rate of 90% (high), while hunting a deer has a success rate of 20% (low).

    • Value of Reward:

    • Deer has a higher value than a rabbit but is riskier to pursue.

  • Rationality Principle:

    • Value times probability informs decision making, but is context-dependent.

  • Contextual Example:

    • A rabbit may become sacred in a tribe's cultural shift, changing its perceived value.

Deprivation versus Satisfaction

  • People have thresholds for valuing rewards.

  • Example:

    • Bringing flowers is more impactful the first time than if done routinely.

  • Fasting Example:

    • Ramadan where the first meal at sunset is highly valued, but subsequent meals may lose value.

Fairness Study with Capuchin Monkeys

  • Initial experiment with two capuchin monkeys showing expectations of reward and its emotional effects.

    • Experiment Procedure:

    • Monkeys perform tasks for rewards (cucumber vs. grapes).

    • Monkeys react negatively to inequality when one monkey gets grapes and the other cucumber.

  • Emotional Response:

    • Monkeys show frustration when expectations of rewards are not met (equity).

Behavioralism and Social Exchanges

  • Shift from individual behaviorism to the exchange between individuals, focusing on interaction (Peter Blau).

  • Three Factors influencing exchanges:

    • Psychological aspects and personality.

    • Social-psychological dimensions (how we relate in groups).

    • Emergent properties from exchanges that establish dynamics of power.

Social vs Economic Exchanges

  • Key Differences:

    • Social exchanges are based on trust and are not formal contracts.

    • Example: Inviting someone over to dinner but not immediately reciprocating feels weird.

Trust, Obligations, and Social Capital

  • Social exchanges cultivate a notion of reciprocity and obligations.

  • Comparative Analysis:

    • Prostitution as monetary exchange vs. adultery as a more complex social exchange.

  • Participants often seek relationships without power imbalances (self-explanatory).

Marginal Utility and Norms

  • Thresholds and Saturation:

    • Overindulgence diminishes value (marginal utility).

  • Norms of reciprocity and fairness dictate social interactions; perception of fraud can destroy relationships.

Emergence of Social Power

  • Social power emerges through unequal exchanges.

  • Characteristics of Unequal Exchanges:

    • Social capital influences group participation.

    • Availability of alternatives can affect power dynamics.

    • The use of force leads to domination, and consistency affects relationships.

Secondary Exchange Relations

  • Concept applied to group dynamics; for example, a tutor who can connect individual relationships to collective understanding among students.

  • Example:

    • Group of students realizing they share a common relationship with their tutor.

Mutualized Extinction and Individuality

  • Introduced by Randall Collins, emphasizing individuality as socially constructed across settings and temporal contexts.

  • Identity Expression:

    • Defined by social categories (age, gender, nationality), not an essence.

Critique of Exchange Theory

  • Traditional models inadequately account for altruistic behaviors.

  • Collins suggests emotional energy as a common metric, influencing social interactions and behavior.

Rhythmic Entrainment

  • Individuals synchronize through bodily co-presence, energy levels dictate social interactions.

  • Barriers to Outsiders:

    • Symbolic or physical hurdles signify group identity and commitment.

Conclusion

  • The evolution from individual behavioralism to collective social interactions highlights complex motivations in relationships and emphasizes emotional energy as a driving factor in social exchanges.

  • Discussions also view social norms and power dynamics, illustrating how interactions evolve in various situational contexts.