Walden Two, a spinoff of Henry David Thoreau’s Walden, was published by the Macmillan Company in 1948. It is an extended exploration of the establishment of a Utopian society, created by T.
Under the guidance of E. Frazier, Professor Burris is prompted by a former student to search for information about Walden Two. As a group of six, the men are asked to visit Walden Two.
Joining Burris and Rogers, the student, areSteve, a friend of Rogers from the war, Rogers and Steve’s girlfriends, and Castle, a fellow professor. Questions about the legitimacy of the group are raised during their visit to the society. Steve and his girlfriend, along with Professor Burris, decide to become members of the society after living there for several days. Walden Two is about the creation of an ideal society that meets its members’ needs through behavioral engineering and other psychological methods.
Skinner frequently relies on psychology to support his book’s thesis. He argues that by employing psychological methods to shape young people, it is possible to eliminate the undesirable aspects of human nature and establish a superior society. In a society without conditioning, traits like jealousy and hatred manifest as negatives. The central emphasis of Skinner’s approach lies in utilizing conditioned reflexes and experimental theories to conduct behavioral engineering.
Burris conducts a case study with an elderly woman in the society in order to obtain impartial knowledge about the society. One idea suggested is the gradual removal of negative elements from human behavior. The book also offers a perspective on how society should function, such as the absence of individual advancement or monetary gain.
The members of this society have been trained since childhood to not seek praise or reward for their community duties. This training creates a psychological effect where members feel motivated to do their work. Additionally, the youth in this ideal society are trained to be free from jealousy and anger. While there is some scientific validity to these ideas, it seems unlikely that the people from the previous generation can be successfully integrated with the newly trained generation.
In the text, Frazier discusses the implementation of conditioning in order to decrease the likelihood of negative actions in children. Frazier also addresses the potential introduction of experimental breeding into society, which raises concerns about inbreeding. Skinner’s characters demonstrate his belief that psychology is akin to the church and that government relies on the science of human behavior.
Finally, Skinner argues that freedom is a psychological concept. While Skinner’s perfect society is scientific, it is not realistic in an advanced society. He supports his ideas about the perfect society through hypothetical examples, which serve as evidence despite their hypothetical nature.
Each chapter features a defense of Skinner’s ideas, as the skeptical professor Burris represents him and his friend Castle constantly presents arguments in favor of Frazier’s society. In Walden Two, the society places great emphasis on the development and growth of its children, implementing a strong program for this purpose. To ensure the society continues to flourish, the children are taught through experimental conditioning to learn the necessary techniques that align with the principles of Walden Two.
In Aldous Huxley’s society, there exists a “culture which is under experimental control” (242). He presents the behaviors of the children in the nursery as evidence for the successful conditioning they undergo from a young age. However, it is important to note that this information lacks solid scientific foundation and is based solely on hypothetical evidence. Huxley’s own children exhibit certain qualities that are absent in the youth of today’s society.
For instance, Frazier used operant conditioning to eliminate negative traits like jealousy and anger in children. Through the use of negative reinforcement, Frazier gradually introduced discouragement to the children, helping them develop a tolerance to prevent feelings of rage (101). This conditioning resulted in a society where babies were encouraged to be perseverant, avoiding harmful competition.
The next phase in achieving an ideal society, which initially involves the upbringing of children, entails a deliberate effort to “weaken the family structure in order to allow for experimental breeding” (113). This weakening is achieved by housing newborns in individual “cubicles” where they are nurtured with sincere love and care (119). Simultaneously, as the neonates gradually adapt to the societal norms, the older founders of the community must also embrace this new way of life. Frazier highlights the challenge that this intergenerational transition poses, as no one can predict its outcome.
The future leaders, who were raised with an emphasis on equality rather than leadership skills, may not possess the necessary abilities to effectively govern society. It is uncertain if a leader will arise from the upcoming generation due to their non-competitive upbringing, which leads to a lack of desire for control. As these children grow older, society takes measures to accommodate them without treating them distinctively.
In the society of Walden Two, all children had equal opportunities and freedom to do as they pleased, as long as they adhered to the guidelines. They were also granted the autonomy to learn whatever and whenever they desired. Frazier acknowledged that this approach facilitated an improved learning atmosphere, as it eliminated the need to force children into activities that bored or were no longer suitable for them (97). Consequently, this led to a self-driven motivation to learn and resulted in outstanding academic achievements for those who aimed for a higher education.
“(98) The society in Walden Two is not only focused on the development of children, but also on adults. Unlike the youth, adults in Walden Two are not subjected to the same conditioning. However, they undergo quick training in order to conform to the rules established for the creation of a utopian society. In this society, money does not exist and is not necessary. Instead, payment for necessities such as food, shelter, and entertainment is provided through the concept of “labor-credit.”
“A labor credit represented the worth of an individual’s contribution in the community. Staying at Walden Two for a year required 1200 labor credits. With an approximate rate of four credits per day, an average work day equated to four hours. In Walden Two, individuals use credits as a form of payment, and each job is assigned a specific credit value, allowing members to freely select their preferred tasks.”
Members of this free choice society have a desire to do work (41), which results in less pressure to work hard. Additionally, there is no societal pressure to achieve, which enables the development of the super-ego (85). Frazier clarifies that behavior is influenced through both work and leisure activities, utilizing various methods.
(86) The experimental society tests everything because they depend on these theories. Punishment-free repression of unpleasant behaviors was applied similarly to children. The right of youth to marry when they deem themselves mature is connected to the children. This bridges the generational gap and facilitates smoother transitions between generations.
The society is controlled by the elders through the “Board of Planners”, where each planner serves a ten year term and nominates a successor. There are no politically warring factions due to the absence of elections. During national elections, a member of the society selects the candidates for the members to vote on.
For the benefit of the community, all individuals cast their votes in a uniform manner. While the society seemingly validates Frazier’s assertions, there remains room for debate. Castle consistently challenges the genuine contentment of its members. Upon discreetly observing the inhabitants of Walden Two, Burris concluded that the serene and insular way of life had a calming impact on their psyche, rendering them oblivious to external influences.
After studying the society, he encounters an older woman and queries her about the society. Through his questioning, he deduces that the experiment successfully achieved a blissful world. Castle attempts to demonstrate that there is a flaw in the society, ultimately concluding that Frazier is either a dictator or a pseudogod.(247) While the scientific foundation of the society appears sound on paper, it lacks the authenticity and specificity needed to determine if any of the proposed ideas in the book could be implemented.
When analyzing the concepts and psychological instruments, certain ideas do not align with societal realities but do coincide with psychology’s specifications and notions. Essentially, Walden Two’s psychological support stems from the fundamental principles of psychology. Walden Two explored human behavior in a manner that was observable, measurable, and replicable. The society operated as an experiment within an open environment.
Observing the visitors who went to Walden Two provided insight into the society. The success of Walden Two cannot be measured solely in quantitative terms, but instead in the qualitative measure of happiness. It was not intended for the society to serve as both a prosperous community and a means of avoiding harsh realities. Additionally, the formation of similar societies and the expansion of Walden Two indicate its potential repeatability.
(186) The freedom of thought was not limited, but it appeared to be absent. Individuals sought the security and solace of familiar surroundings. (21) Burris hurriedly sought refuge with his friends on the tour after encountering an unfamiliar woman. Walden Two demonstrated the impact of conditioning a society to function.
Frazier’s experiment revolves around the concept of nature versus nurture and the impact of conditioning with primary reinforcers. The next objective for the community was what Frazier referred to as “experimental breeding,” which involved selectively using positive traits to cultivate a more efficient and kinder society. The society operates based on positive reinforcement for favorable behaviors, but in order to shape these desired behaviors, the conditioning process commences during childhood.
