Do You Have “Free Will”? Choices Versus Decisions.

This blog isn’t finished yet – work in progress. Feel free to throw some ideas in on the comments. Or if you have more examples of “fight and flight” – post them up.

Jonathan Edwards wrote a book in the 1800’s called “Freedom Of The Will” and in that book he says something along the lines of – we know about our behaviors but not about it’s causes. We know about the effect – the outcome of the cause – but we don’t understand why we act the way we do. As a result, we believe that we have free will. But once you accept the fact that everything you do has a cause? You will see the world in a whole new light.

Do you have “Free Will” as it pertains to behaviors? The majority would say yes – but I say no. You have freedom of choice – but not freedom of decision. Operant is about the consequences of your decisions both positive and negative.

Everything you do is a behavior. Every move you make, every word you utter – all behaviors. That’s very important to understand – it’s no different for the dog or the rat or the pigeon. Skinner was only concerned about behavior – the brain – he didn’t care about the mind. Skinner didn’t need the mind to shape your behaviors – he only manipulated the environment and the animals resulting “Positive Reinforcement” did the rest.

Part of Positive Reinforcement is your fight and/or flight – that’s your very reaction to environmental negative reinforcements – environmental punishers. Every animal is a product of their environment.

Skinners pigeons were kept hungry and underweight – that’s a negative reinforcement. Food is primal desire – a primal Positive Reinforcement. Food and water is necessary for the survival of the animal. That’s something that dog owners shouldn’t be mucking with – the base Operant Conditioning of the animal. Food should not be used to manipulate the animal – and that’s what you’re doing with that treat – manipulation of the animals Operant Conditioning. Still think treats are wonderful? Think about that long and hard.

In order to understand Psychology – the study of the mind and behavior – one needs to separate “body and brain” from the “mind” – treat them as separate entities. Your mind has no role in your decisions – only in your choices. It’s your body that takes the mind along for the ride – your body decides to make an action. And follows up on those choices – or needs.

Choice connects to the place of “desired” intention, values and beliefs. Choices are your intentions to do things. I want to do that, I will do that – but there is no action associated with it. There is no behavior associated. As an example – you need a drink of water cause you’re thirsty. I am going to get a drink of water. That’s your mind.

Decision connects to the place of behavior, performance and consequences. The decision to do something – to make a move – that’s all brain and body. The mind is not involved. The decision to move, get off the couch and go to the sink has nothing to do with your mind – it’s a brain controlling your body.

You tell the child to clean their room – child says they will. They have the intention to do so – but they don’t. Many times this is followed up with a Negative Reinforcement – punishment or the threat of punishment. Punishment creates fight and flight in all animals. And it’s something in the environment that is punishing the animal.

Causality – Cause and effect – action and reaction – action and consequence. We can’t escape it – we are slaves to it – it is an inevitability that we cannot change.

Every action you make has a cause – and there is consequence either positive or negative to every action you make. Your decision to get off the couch, go to the sink – pour a glass of water and drink it has a cause. Why would you possibly do that? Could it be “cause” you are thirsty – your body needs fluid.

You get in the car and go to the store. There is a reason that you went to the store – a cause. Maybe you need milk for the morning – that’s the choice. Think about the actions – the decisions – that you make while driving a car to get to the store. You put your foot on the gas to move forward and you put your foot on the brake to slow down or stop – there is a reason for hitting the gas or the brake. It’s about consequences. If you don’t hit the brakes at the right time – you can rear end someone. That’s a negative consequence. Think about that long and hard.

If B.F Skinner created the any “Quadrants” – there would be only 2. Positive Reinforcement and Negative Reinforcement. They are Yin and Yang – you cannot have one without the other – they need each other to exist. How can you truly understand Pleasure if you have never experienced Pain – Positive and Negative right?

“Fight” and “Flight” are very deep subjects – and yes, you as a human fight and flight more than you know – but it needs to be understood. Aggression and avoidance is a tiny example of fight and flight – tend to be the primary that people focus on. But it goes far deeper.

There is no such thing as an “aggressive” dog – it’s not a diagnosis. It’s the effect part of “cause and effect” – what Cesar Millan calls a symptom – the outcome of a problem. Aggression has a cause – but people don’t know to look for the cause. People don’t know to ask the question “WHY”? Why is anything happening – there is a reason for it and once you understand the reason – you will understand that you do not have “Freedom of Will” when it comes to behaviours.

Some examples of how we fight and flight beyond aggression and running away.

If you go outside and it’s really cold – negative reinforcement. What’s your resulting Positive Reinforcement – the desire to be warm. So you fight or flight. Fight would be put on a coat or sweater. Flight would be to heck with this, I’m going back inside. Or you can be indifferent – the cold doesn’t bother you.

Think about the stock market – the Greed and Fear index. Positive and Negative Reinforcement. Fight and flight – buy or sell.

We have all seen the ads on TV or facebook – dogs in shelters. These videos are a negative to you – a negative reinforcement that is punishing you. What is your resulting “Positive Reinforcement” – your “fight and flight”? You can go volunteer or donate money – that’s your “fight” – wanting to make change – make the world a better place. You can flight – scroll on by or turn the channel cause you can’t deal with it. Or you can become indifferent – it’s not a big deal. Funny how these are always the only outcomes?

When you are in a state of fear – your mind isn’t working very well due to all the chemicals and hormones – like cortisol – raging through your body. This is the state of fight and flight.

What other example can we come up with? I’m sure there are thousand or more!