Motivation and Reward in Learning (1948)

★★★ · The behaviorist basis of modern US education · Steve Nordby · 2003-09-14

Pellets of food or electric shocks are delivered to rat students depending on their behavior. Reward and punishment, except the word punishment is never used, no it's "motivation". The goal is to control the student's behavior. Humane treatment or happiness is superfluous. Since the drive produced by shock is stronger than hunger, we know that well fed students aren't stupid or lazy, "all they need is a little motivation." A well done clinical film for its era in spite of the euphemistic "motivation". Generalizing on studies such as this film illustrates, "educators" developed similar schemes…