Beyond Freedom and Dignity

Freedom is presented as the ability to avoid aversive conditions or negative reinforcers. Reflexes, such as pulling one’s hand away from a hot surface, are a simple example. Complex behaviors, such as running away from danger, function similarly and likely evolved to increase chances of survival. Other freedom-seeking behaviors are learned through operant conditioning—a process in which behaviors are rewarded or penalized through positive and negative reinforcers. Emergent behaviors may be passive, such as complying with an authority to avoid punishment, or more active, such as leaving or attacking the authoritarian force. Individuals may also practice displaced aggression, where aggression is taken out on an innocent party.

Skinner defines “literature of freedom” as writing designed to inspire people to free themselves from aversive control (29). It achieves this by emphasizing misery-inducing conditions, villainizing the individual or organized controllers causing the aversive conditions, and describing how to escape the aversive conditions, usually by discussing how to eliminate controlling forces. Without literature of freedom, people tend to submit to aversive control. Freedom-themed literature has contributed to society by reducing aversive social practices.

Freedom is often defined by the feelings it evokes. Skinner counters that this is not an effective way of defining freedom.