Truth Serum Hot Topics
(443)494-9853
  • Happy Birthday Truthserumhottopics.com
  • The Obamas
  • Official
    • Daily Dose >
      • Real Talk
      • Love Is. . .
      • My Prayer
      • The Lies We Live By
      • Detroit
      • #Blackfuture'smatter
      • Tag, You're It
      • Powerful Messages-This Was Hijacked From a Facebook Post
      • Baltimore, A Dying City >
        • A Peaceful Protest Gone Wrong >
          • Riots in Baltimore: Day 1
          • Information is Power
      • The Climax
      • Inevitable
      • Fireworks
      • Say Something
      • I Wonder. . .
      • Heads Up
      • Memory Lapse
      • Prepare
      • The Truth About Temptation
      • The Devil is a Liar
      • Fall
      • The Challenge
      • Haunted Happenings
      • That Moment
      • One Million Pieces
      • Not One More, and yet . . .
      • Done
      • Joanne Borgella, 32 Loses Her Battle With Cancer
      • Who Is Amber Vinson
      • Excerpt from Chapter 2 of \\"Hell Hath No Fury...\\"- \\"My First\\"
      • Hostage
      • Black like Me
      • No Justice....St. Louis Protesters Clash With Police In Second Night Of Unrest
      • Your Character Flaw Is Showing
      • Don't Take It Personal
      • Cancer Sucks
      • Boys to Men
      • Straight, No Chaser
      • Broken Promises
      • Timing Is Everything-Click on the arrow and watch the (2) videos under the tab (The Real Scandal)
      • I Declare War
      • Bruised but Not Broken
      • Hell Hath No Fury. . . .Excerpt from chapter 1-Growing Pains
      • The Real Scandal
      • The History of the City Vs. Poly Rivalry >
        • City, Poly-Western Marching Band Action Through The Years
      • Liar Liar
      • Old School Saturday >
        • Saturday Morning Cartoon Theme Songs
      • Article-Is The Black Woman Already Dead In America, Kali Nicole Gross-Author, Huffington Post >
        • Black Woman Dethroned
        • Black Lemons
      • Satisfied
      • Thought Provoking/Repairing Broken Relationships
      • . . .And The Winner Is
      • Where My Niggers vs.Niggas At >
        • Nigger vs. Nigga: Is one better than the other: By: Bruce Bean
      • Exhibit B
      • The Double Standard- This Guy.....I can't......
      • What Some Men Really Want >
        • Th Result of Physical Augmentation (click the hyperlink)
      • Strength In Numbers-Town Hall Meeting/Empowerment Temple 6/30/14 >
        • The Information Super Highway
        • Stage 1
      • Conspiracy Theory
      • Attention Seeker
      • Recycled Truth >
        • The Truth Hurts
      • You're Killing Me >
        • Spelling 101
      • The I's Have It
      • Are Black Americans Stupid?
      • The Blame Game
      • Connected >
        • Deonte' Bridges Valedictorian Speech
      • Deuces
      • Fret Not...
      • Change
      • Heal >
        • A Silenced Love, By: Kheelen Pierce
      • Uncover
      • Hope
      • Help
      • Lost
      • Feel
      • This Means War
      • Stop The Violence
      • Untarnished Love
      • Awake/The truth that most wont tell!!!
      • Funny
      • Behind Enemy Lines
      • The New Era of Sin
      • Enough Already
      • Beware
      • Right! I know . . . . . .
      • Let's Talk About Sex/(May contain explicit photos in slideshow)
      • Goodbye Charm City >
        • Prayers for Charleston
      • Broken Laws of Attraction >
        • Self Hatred/Very Sad (explicit language)
      • You Can Run, But. . . .
      • Single is Not a Curse
      • No Words
      • Enough is Enough
      • Time Out
      • Do You Lie
      • Love is A Battlefield
      • Infinite Love
      • LOVE
      • REAL LOVE
      • God Kept Me
      • Undefined
      • What If...
      • The Silent Scars
      • Beauty
      • Bon Voyage
      • The Wrong Turn
      • Selfie Hatred
      • The Do Over
      • Realistically Speaking
      • Naughty or Nice
      • Below The Surface
      • Apology Not Accepted
      • Know Your Role
      • October was Breast Cancer & Domestic Violence Month >
        • Nobody is Exempt
        • "Woman"(A Tribute to Breast Cancer Awareness & Any Woman Who Experiences Change) By: Rebecca Dupas
        • Race For The Cure/Hunt Valley, MD-October 26, 2014
    • "Breathe"
    • Happy Birthday
    • Freedom
  • THE CONCEPTION
  • The Truth Behind The Smile
  • The Truth Behind The Smile/Video
  • Happening Around Town Throwbacks
  • Everyone Should Be Outraged-Pics, Videos, Information Ferguson, Missouri
    • Home Sweet Home
    • Outrage After South Florida Police Use Black Mugshots for Target Practice
    • Ezell Ford-The Autopsy Report
    • Misinformation Effect
    • Here We Go Again
    • Sad but True
    • No Justice No Peace >
      • No Indictment >
        • Tyler Perry and his racial profiling experience
      • Tis' The Season
      • Videos of Solidarity for Ferguson Protests All Around The World
      • Day 100 State of Emergency
      • Day 101 Civil Rights or Civil War
      • Day 102 in Ferguson- No Decision
      • Day 103- And Still. . . .
      • Day 104-Uncovered Truth
      • Day 105-We Still Wait...
      • Day 106-The Diversion
      • Day 107- Keep Pushing
      • Day of Reckoning #1
      • The Fight-Day #2 >
        • Hashtag
        • Why Whites Protest
      • The Image of African Americans Through The Eyes of Others-scroll down to video >
        • The Terrifying Racial Stereotypes Laced Through Darren Wilson's Testimony
    • I Seen It All- Trey Davidson-( From St. Louis Missouri)
    • What's Going On (Marvin Gaye)
    • Michael Brown's Parents Plea For Support
    • Senseless Murder of Mckenzie Elliott, age 3, 8/1/14
    • Senseless Murder of John Crawford-age 22 8/5/14
    • Senseless Murder of Devin Cook, 20, 7/31/14
    • 3 Year Old Killed In Landover, MD Shooting 8/10/14
    • Tyrone West- One Year Later-(see video at the bottom)
    • Another Senseless Murder-An All Too Familiar Theme
    • Eric Garner- Murder By Chokehold/N.Y.P.D.
    • AN AFRICAN AMERICAN 17 YEAR OLD MALES DEPICTION OF HOW THE WORLD SEES HIM >
      • Identity Crisis By: Kheelen Pierce
  • Blast Your Business!!!
    • The Sole Survivor
    • Personification
    • Earl L. Carter, Author of "I'm Just Sayin. . ."
    • How Do You Spell Success. . . . .
    • Congratulations!!!!!
  • The Twelve Days To Thanksgiving
    • Day #1-The Obvious
    • Day #2-Goodbye
    • Day #3-Dodged A Bullet
    • Day #4-Humbling
    • Day #5-Family First
    • Day #6 Smile
    • Day #7-Friends
    • Day #8-My Heartbeat
    • Day #9-Rest
  • History Is A Weapon
    • Female Icons
    • Men of Standard >
      • Legacy
    • The Fight Continues/ Click The Music Link At The Top
    • 300+ Real Good Men/ click tab (2x) >
      • Baltimore Making a Difference-8/21/14
      • 2nd Annual 300 Men March In Baltimore City, 7/11/14
      • Actual Video Footage at the 5 Mile Mark/ The Importance of Decorum
    • #BaltimoreForFerguson - Baltimore Bloc of Families Against Police Brutality
    • Alert
    • Protest Held on 8/10/14-Michael Brown-Murder in Ferguson, Missouri (pics, article, video)
  • The Sky Is The Limit
    • The Sky Is The Limit Pt. 2
    • The Sky Is the Limit 3 Stanton Kidd
  • The Art Of Togetherness, (Click tab to open video footage)
    • Poets in the Park Video
  • Summer Spirit Fest 2014-8/2/14 Merriweather Post Pavilion Columbia, MD
    • Videos/Lauren Hill
    • Lauren Hill
    • Janelle Monae
    • Junk Yard
    • Talib Kwali
    • Good Doggone Music >
      • DMV This Is For You
  • Slideshow
  • Pics
  • Beauty's Only Skin Deep
    • Grow Natural
    • Tighten Up
  • Blog
  • The Layout
    • Throwbacks
  • For the avid reader..........
  • Suggestions
  • Contact
  • Store
  • New Page
  • New Page
  • New Page
  • New Page

Change

Picture
Picture
Picture


     Change means to alter, revise, or redirect.  It also means to reconsider.  To change current human behavior, a person must unlearn or discard current information to ascertain brand new information. To accomplish this, there must be exposure to new environments.  The most important factors for this to be successful are a willingness and determination for this process to work. Those of us that have ever taken an interest in Psychology are familiar with one of the most common theories, which is, “operant conditioning”. This process was coined by B.F. Skinner, a behaviorist that determined that behavior can be modified with rewards and punishment.  As a behaviorist, Skinner believed that internal thoughts and motivations could not be used to explain behavior. Instead, he suggested, we should look only at the external, observable causes of human behavior.  Skinner used the term operant to refer to any "active behavior that operates upon the environment to generate consequences" (1953). In other words, Skinner's theory explained how we acquire the range of learned behaviors we exhibit each and every day. Skinner further explained that we can find examples of operant conditioning all around us. When children complete homework, they are promised a reward from their parents or a good grade from a teacher.  If a project is done at work, a person can expect praise, a promotion, or some type of bonus. In these examples, the promise of a reward potentially increases the positive behavior.  This technique can also be used to decrease negative behavior. When the possibility for a negative outcome or punishment is present a person may modify or decrease negative patterns and behaviors. This process is extremely important throughout our entire lives.  In interpersonal relationships both parties exhibit certain behaviors. Many times someone may do something that might be considered negative, such as cheating, refusing to communicate, refusing to cooperate, not considering the other person’s needs, and allowing distractions such as cell phones, and other technological devices to take priority over the relationship. Unfortunately, when a person makes excuses for this type of behavior and there is no type of permanent punishment or penalty, the behavior will continue or even increase. The person is not just going to decide on their own to change their actions. If we look at the operant conditioning theory we remember that motivation for behavior is external and observable. Behavior is not caused by internal thoughts. As humans, we need an incentive to change. Even if something is detrimental to us in the long run, if the consequences have yet to present themselves, why change the behavior? This is why, in my opinion, the criminal justice system has done a great disservice to our community when it comes to repeat offenders.  If someone knows that their behavior will generate a type if “slap on the wrist” punishment for the crimes committed, they will continue to do the same thing over and over again because in their mind the reward is more satisfying than the punishment is damaging. When someone is released from the penal system, there needs to be an extensive behavior modification program along with a process of adaptation skills to be able to exist in the world and be successful. Actually, there needs to be a mandatory program set up as soon as someone is incarcerated. If this same person ends up in front of a judge again, the punishment should be more severe. I don’t understand how a person can be on probation for the same crime or a similar crime more than 2 times.  This just proves that we possess the skill of adaptation.  Meaning, we learn how to fly under the radar for a period of time to deflect attention from ourselves. This is one of the great survival skills of humans. Many times we adapt in relationships, jobs, and other areas of life. Usually when a particular time frame is given to modify a behavior, a person will do just enough to “get by” and remain neutral so that someone else believes that their behavior has changed. Unfortunately, that is not true in most cases.  As humans we realize that probation is temporary so we do what is necessary or at least we appear to do it until the probationary period ends. In other words, most people don’t really change a negative behavior until there is a definite consequence and we lose (for good) the things that ultimately matter the most to us. When we find ourselves having the same conversations several times with someone about why they do or don't do certain things, we must realize that they do them or they don't do them because they want to or they don't and the outcome has been favorable. Your desire for someone to be different is not an incentive for them to change. It’s nothing more than a sentence of probation that you will have to impose several times until you decide to change, stop talking, and let them figure it out. Unfortunately, sometimes, letting a person fall by the waist side is the only recourse to provoke a favorable outcome. Being an enabler or a rescue ranger is just as detrimental to someone as playing around with a loaded gun. If a person is never made to take responsibility for their actions, again I ask, why then should he or she change?  
Proverbs 18:15- An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.