"They'll grow up with what the psychologists used to call an 'instinctive' hatred of books and flowers. Reflexes unalterably conditioned. They'll be safe from books and botany all their lives" The Director turned to his nurses. "Take them away again." (Huxley 22)
This relates to our life because this is how parents or guardians are in our society. When you're a baby or infant your brain is still growing and developing, so at this point in a human's life you can get the human to think how you want them to think by using some sort of punishment. We see this everyday, just not as bad as in the novel because as people grow it is harder to take over them.
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I agree with you Alan, but you mention that "get the human to think how you want them to think by using some sort of punishment." Go further with this, give an example. You said "some sort of punishment." I don't think you can get someone to act a certain way by punishing them. And when you say "we see this everyday" I'm pretty sure most people don't see this everyday, but if you say we do I advise you to show an example. Go further with your comment, give examples and if you can go a little personal it would be a better blog.
ReplyDeleteI can see the connection you mention, but do you think they're on the same level? I mean we are told not to do this not to do that, and sometimes are hit. In the book the kids are shocked, tortured, into hating books and nature. Our parents might hit us, but I don't think any child has ever been shocked. In Brave New World, the society goes to an extreme in the way they condition the kids. In our world we are mostly left to do what we want. We have free will. We get to choose if we want to listen to our parents. In this world the kids are given no other option. They live in ignorace of what they could have and therefore never try to do anything different then what they are told. Do you think living in ignorance is better than having options?
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with babies being conditioned by parents or guardians,but my question is"What other ways are people being conditioned in everyday life?" Are you being conditioned right now?
ReplyDeleteI like what you say about punishing people. Indeed, if someone is punished fro doing something they do it less. But, is that the only way we are "conditioned"? Think about rewards as well. We are rewarded for doing certain things and because of that we strive to do those things more often. Is that not a form of conditioning?
ReplyDeleteEvery one comes from different backgrounds, therefore everyone has some differences in the way they were “conditioned” as a child. It'd be great if you gave examples of how you or someone that you know were conditioned. Also give your opinion on this topic. Do you agree with this type of conditioning? How would you condition your own child? What you say about it being harder to condition someone the older they get is true because once we're older we start building up our own ideas and stubbornly refuse to accept any other ones. Has anyone tried to condition you lately?
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