Learning From the Pigeons 628.3
During an experiment, pigeons were put in cages, each having one green and one red button. In the first cage, if the birds pecked the green button, they got food every time. In the second cage, the green button yielded food erratically, and the pigeons had to persist to get enough food. In both cases, pecking the red button did nothing. Both sets of birds thrived, learning what they had to do to survive and ignoring the red button that yielded no food.
When the birds in the first cage that got a reward every time were put in the second cage that fed them only occasionally, they failed to adapt. They hit their heads against the cage and pecked wildly at everything in sight.
There are two lessons we can take from this study:
First, the pigeons quickly learned from experience to avoid the red button because it was unproductive. There are lots of people who would lead smoother and happier lives if they, too, stopped pushing red buttons that never give them what they want.
Second, birds that have it too easy get spoiled and develop an entitlement mentality that prevents them from adapting to situations where they must work harder to solve their problems. Some people are like that also. They don’t deal well with new circumstances, especially those that require persistence.
Part of being responsible is learning to appreciate the benefits of tenacity and the wisdom of avoiding useless, harmful, and self-defeating patterns of behavior.
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.
What do you think of this commentary?
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Comments
Which one is it: should we stop pushing red buttons or be persistent? It seems on the one hand you are saying just give up after a few tries, but on the other you are espousing the benefits of being persistent. Doesn’t persistence mean continuing to push the red buttons even after repeated failures to get what you believe is right? Even when all you want to do is hit your head against the wall? When should Thomas Edison have given up inventing the light bulb? After his first 100 failures? 500? 1000? (Edison claimed that he failed over 2000 times before discovering a workable design.) Maybe some people would lead happier lives if they just gave up, but is it really the right thing to do? Are smoother lives the goal, or ethical and moral behavior? Isn’t the problem today that not enough people are continuing to push the red buttons? Maybe if more people kept pushing the red buttons of our elected officials we wouldn’t be in the quagmire we find ourselves in today.
Posted by: Mr T | July 21, 2009 11:32 AM
I do believe in the adage that "if you don't first succeed, try, try again." But there are areas in one's life where the red button results in something negative. It is in those situations when you are looking at something you need to stop wasting your energy on. Those red buttons may be people or habits that you must let go in order to grow.
Posted by: Ray G | July 24, 2009 7:02 AM
Mr. T,
If I may... I understand Mr. Josephson to say that there comes a time when you need to learn that some things (choices, pursuits, lifestyles, etc.) are red buttons - not worth being persistent in. They are not healthy or productive, and therefore should not be pursued. They are exercises in futility. I do not equate that realization with giving up. I'd bet that Thomas Edison was on some "red button" paths during his research, but his persistence pointed him to the more correct, productive "green button" path. He could have continued to research the red button path and we'd not have the light bulb today without his insight on when to retire those pursuits. Using your other example, I see the "pushing of our elected officials" as that erratic green button, not the worthless red button.
Posted by: JT | July 24, 2009 8:49 AM
Mr T,
I have seen a couple of your argumentative posts now and am sorry that you cannot pull out the wisdom and contemplate it. Anyone can argue with anything, and you seem determined to do so.
Posted by: john | July 24, 2009 9:10 AM
There may be one other tidbit one can take away from the pigeon experiments. Isn't it better as parents to teach our children using partial reinforcement to build persistence rather than using simple, expected rewards each time the child does anything we feel he/she should do? If rewards are given every time, an attitude of entitlement ensues and then when a recession or hardship comes, everyone else is to blame and it is very difficult to stay focused on the positive and creative behaviors that will help in the situation. After all, taking responsibility for one's behavior is really only another way to describe a persistent person.
Posted by: Don G | July 25, 2009 7:10 PM
John:
I just seek consistency in opinion. You can’t one day say there is no such thing as a little lie and the next defend Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. Likewise, you can’t promote persistence as a mark of good character one day, then endorse vacillation the next. Maybe you are content to readily accept wishy-washy opinions from day to day as they suit you. I expect more of myself, my family, friends, co-workers, and community. It’s sad that so many people are content to accept inconsistencies such as this. Maybe that’s one of the root causes of the world’s problems. If we were all more consistent in the expression and practice of our character, wouldn’t there be fewer concerns to address? I am sorry that you cannot pull and contemplate the wisdom of that.
Posted by: Mr T | August 10, 2009 8:04 PM