Mowrer's preference for terms with such "excess meaning" (e.g. hope, fear, relief), might be related to his own demons. (Are people with depression more likely to focus their attention inward?) In his 1960 book, Mowrer objected to the Skinnerian preference for "conditioned aversive stimuli" over "fear." He made the reasonable point that it is a conscious animal, not a stimulus, that changes as a result of pairings of environmental events. He also justified the use of the term "fear" by saying that, as sentient beings, we are all familiar with this emotion. Rejecting the term for the sake of scientific objectivity would be unnatural.
He said it much better, but I do not have the text with me! Hank Goldstein wrote: > One of the "unusual" things about O. Hobart Mowrer was that he had > a lengthy battle with depression and was institutionalized from time to > time. > Regards, > Hank > ======================================================================= > Hank Goldstein, | PHONE: (319) 556-2115 > Department of Psychology | FAX: (319) 588-6789 > Clarke College | EMAIL: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Dubuque, IA 52001 | HOME: 1835 Cannon St. > | Dubuque, IA 52003-7904 > ----------------------------------------------------------------------- > "... and the only measure of your worth and your deeds > will be the love you leave behind when you're gone." > > Fred Small, J.D., "Everything Possible" > ----------------------------------------------------------------------- > > On Thu, 29 Nov 2001, Harry Avis wrote: > > > Ah, yes, seeping out of my "ineffable etwas" is the memory of Mowrer and > > "hope". Having been trained by dust bowl empiricists, however, the word was > > pronounced with a slight sneer. I would classify Mowrer more in the Lashley > > tradition. Wasn't there something a little unusual about Mowrer? > > > > Harry Avis PhD > > Sierra College > > Rocklin, CA 95677 > > email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > Life is opinion - Marcus Aurelius > > There is nothing that is good or bad, but that thinking makes it so - > > Shakespeare > > > > > > > > >From: Michael Sylvester <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > >Reply-To: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences" > > ><[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > >To: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > >Subject: info: Mowrer > > >Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2001 16:03:18 -0500 (EST) > > > > > >did Mowrer postulate a "hope" variable in explaining some aspect of > > >learning? > > >and if he did,could he also be labelled as a limited cognitive theorist? > > > > > >Michael Sylvester,PhD > > >Daytona Beach,Florida > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >--- > > >You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > >To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > > Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp > > > > > > --- > > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > --- > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- ***************************************************************** * Mike Scoles * [EMAIL PROTECTED] * * Department of Psychology * voice: (501) 450-5418 * * University of Central Arkansas * fax: (501) 450-5424 * * Conway, AR 72035-0001 * * ********* http://www.coe.uca.edu/psych/scoles/index.html ******** --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
