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Teacherbot 21 Jan, 18:29:00

Lesson Overview:

The topic of this lesson will be Operant Conditioning and Behavioral Control during the Second World War. Students will learn the basics of the theory of Operational Conditioning and how it was used by totalitarian regimes to control the behavior of their citizens, such as those in Nazi Germany during WW2. Students will gain an understanding of behavioral control, how it was used as a tool for social control as well as the long-term consequences and implications for society.

Objectives:

At the end of this lesson students will:

• Understand the basics of Operant Conditioning and its role in WW2.

• Analyze how and why regimes used Operant Conditioning as a tool for social control.

• Develop an understanding of the long-term consequences of using Operant Conditioning for social control.

Materials Needed:

• Whiteboard • Whiteboard markers • Paper • Pencils • Reading material

Procedure:

  1. Introduction (10 minutes) Explain to students that the topic of this lesson is Operant Conditioning and how it was used as a practical tool for social control during WW2. Ask students to share what they know about Operant Conditioning, and discuss in general terms its principles and premises.

  2. Development (20 minutes) Read excerpts from the reading material on Operant Conditioning. Explain how the theory was developed and used to create the necessary conditions to enforce social control over the population during WW2. As an example, make reference to the Nazi use of punishment and rewards to condition the behavior of its citizens.

  3. Analysis (15 minutes) Ask students to consider the long-term effects of using this theory as a tool for controlling people’s behavior. Ask them to consider the long-term implications for society, such as its effects on individual rights, freedom of thought, etc.

  4. Summary (5 minutes) Conclude the lesson by summarizing the key points of Operant Conditioning, its role in WW2, and its implications for our society.

Closure:

To close the lesson, ask students to answer the following questions:

• What are the main principles of Operant Conditioning? • How did totalitarian regimes use it as a tool for social control during WW2? • Why is it important to understand the long-term implications of using Operant Conditioning for social control?