Impact of Technology on Society and Human Behavior
Virtual Reality
The development of technologies has opened new possibilities in all areas of our lives, making it a key factor in shaping our society. However, these advances are also associated with various negative consequences, such as the loss of communication and interpersonal relationships. Conversely, they can also cause the opposite effect by opening doors of contact between people who use the internet to commit crimes and mislead. Although it has advantages for the development of science, creating a virtual reality simulation of reality allows for experimentation and provides a new element of aid. Companies are adapting to new technologies in areas like education and health.
Technology
Technology is present everywhere, and science is linked to it. For example, producing products to preserve food involves a technological and scientific process. B.F. Skinner’s behavioral studies focused on observable behavior, specifically the stimulus and response, without delving into a person’s thoughts. He argued that mental terms refer to realities that cannot be studied within the realm of science and that understanding behavior is meaningless without developing a technology of behavior and using it to solve problems.
In the film A Clockwork Orange, operant conditioning is depicted when the protagonist is tied to a chair, unable to blink, and subjected to stimuli that induce nausea and fatigue. This is used to condition him to associate previously enjoyed activities with negative feelings.
Conditioning involves providing negative reinforcement to discourage violent behavior. It determines the likelihood that responses will be repeated, and behavior is modifiable. Reinforcement consequences follow a behavior. If they are positive (rewards), the behavior is likely to be repeated. If they are negative (punishments), the behavior is less likely to be repeated. The type of reinforcement used influences the adoption of habits through a stimulus-response association.
The text questions the freedom of people, suggesting that they may be constrained by reinforcements and discriminatory stimuli that determine social behavior. There are two criteria for assessing technology:
- Internal: This is in the hands of experts and technologists.
- External: This falls into the hands of citizens who will suffer the consequences of technology’s use.
Means and purposes must be considered when analyzing technological development. Interest is essential for analyzing the motivations behind technological development, and certain interests should take precedence over others. Use raises the question: when do we know that the use of certain technologies is good or bad? Some technologies are misused to cause harm. We consider something to work well if it is effective.
A technological society is shaped and defined by technology in areas like work and leisure. This technological development is essential.
Concept Map on Technology
- Instrumental Reason: Analyzes the impact of technology.
- Science: Specialized study resulting in a body of knowledge through the use of laws.
- Philosophy: Reflects on how technology interferes with human beings and society.
- Technology: Application of science.
- Technique: Mechanism by which natural realities are transformed into artificial ones.
- Psychology: Behavioral technology.
The philosophy of reason, through instrumental value, analyzes the impact of technology on humans and society in general. Its field of study includes psychology or behavioral technology. Technology, defined as applied science, uses a particular technique and is assessed by a series of internal criteria led by experts and external criteria established by society’s influence. Internal criteria involve the means by which certain purposes are achieved, influenced by various interests and consequences that will impact decisions about technology.