Behaviorism Everywhere, by Ib Grace

(content: graphically physical language)

Behaviorism Everywhere

Muscles taut and trembling;

Guts churning in

Sweat drenched innards,  

Mixing with blood

From secret lacerations

Of a million mental pains

I do not know how to cry out—

But it’s nothing to you

Because I am “nice.”

The medical masters say

Behavior is everything:

I am only what they observe.

A to B to C—

There’s nothing to see here

Move along—

Agency and self are illusory

If they are disabled.

You know this is wrong

Yet apply the same

Standards to me:

I do not cut so must not bleed.

I am not cruel so must not feel.

The least I could do

Is tell you all my business.

Oppressor and oppressed

Confessor and depressed

Stop stressing. See:

Pressed from all sides

I now declare I care

With raring equanimity.

All y’all can take a knee,

Kiss my stoic kindhearted ass

Equally. You choose for you

And I for me.

I am in here.

-Ib Grace

(Thanks to Mark Utter for that last line.)

[This visual is a PowerPoint slide by Lili, labeled "The Most Fundamental Law of Behavior is that CONSEQUENCES DRIVE BEHAVIOR." The heading states: "LEARNING THEORY: OPERANT CONDITIONING." Below this, there are three columns. A stands for 'antecedent', B for 'behavior' and C for 'consequence'. The C and the A have arrows pointing to the B. Underneath the behavior is a small dog, labeled "BOOGIE'S BEHAVIOR". Underneath the consequences header you have "how the behavior works (or doesn't work for Boogie). "good stuff happens; increased behavior, Bad stuff happens, decreased behavior," etc. Underneath the antecedents you have pictures identifying cues, commands, environment, etc. such as "mom calling" and "click and treat" and so on.]