1. Elements of Psychology in Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange Kaye Slamp

2. Classical Conditioning in A Clockwork Orange … Largely founded and popularized by Russian behaviorist Ivan Pavlov, classical conditioning is a type of learning where a stimulus gains the power to cause a response. This form of learning is clearly evident in the movie.

3. Unconditioned Stimulus The unconditioned stimulus is the stimulus (an object or “thing”) that triggers a response reflexively and automatically. In the case of the movie, the unconditioned stimulus is the experimental serum injected into the main character Alex.

4. Unconditioned Response The unconditioned response is the automatic response to the unconditioned stimulus. In the case of the movie, the unconditioned response is Alex’s sickness caused by the serum; in other words, his gagging and paralysis behaviors.

5. Neutral Stimulus The neutral stimulus is a stimulus which initially produces no specific response other than focusing attention. In the case of the movie, it is the violent and sexually violent movie scenes Alex was forced to watch.

6. Conditioned Stimulus The conditioned stimulus is the previously neutral stimulus that, through learning, gains the power to cause a response. In the case of the movie, it is Alex’s aggressive and sexual desires and thoughts.

7. Conditioned Response The conditioned response is the response to the previously neutral stimulus that, through learning, gains the power to cause a response. It is the same as the unconditioned response. In the case of the movie, it is Alex’s response of getting sick whenever he wanted to engage in any violent action or sexual behavior.

8. Unintentional Conditioning The researchers in the movie accidentally introduced another stimulus to Alex. When showing him the movies, they played Ludwig van Beethoven’s “9 th Symphony” in the background…

9. Unconditioned Stimulus – the experimental serum injected into Alex. Unconditioned Response – Alex’s sickness; gagging and paralysis behaviors. Neutral Stimulus – Beethoven’s 9 th Symphony Conditioned Stimulus – Beethoven’s 9 th Symphony Conditioned Response – Alex’s sickness; gagging and paralysis behaviors. Thus, Alex attempts to do himself in when hearing the symphony blaring.

10. Acquisition Acquisition is the most basic process in classical conditioning. It is the process of developing a learned response (i.e. it occurs when a neutral stimulus is repeatedly paired with an unconditioned stimulus). In the case of the movie, acquisition is portrayed in the process overseen by Dr. Brodsky – the process of pairing the experimental serum with the graphic scenes of violence and sex. Dr. Brodsky

11. Generalization Generalization is a type of response that occurs when an organism produces the same response to two similar stimuli. In the case of the movie, Alex responds with sickness to any and all types of sexual urges or violent behavior.

12. Discrimination Discrimination is a type of response that occurs when an organism produces different responses to two stimuli. In the case of the movie, Alex responds with sickness only to Beethoven’s “9 th Symphony”, not to any other Beethoven score or, for that matter, any other classical composer’s score.

13. Extinction Extinction is the diminishing of a learned response. In other words, the loss of a conditioned response to a conditioned, previously neutral, stimulus. In the case of the movie, it is suggested that extinction has occurred in Alex, as he begins having violent and sexual thoughts again, but no longer gets sick. He has lost his learned response of sickness to the conditioned stimulus of violence and sexual violence.

14. Spontaneous Recovery Spontaneous recovery is the return of an extinguished, classically conditioned response after a rest period. While spontaneous recovery did not occur in the movie, hypothetically, if in a sequel movie, Alex were to suddenly go from violent following the extinguishing of his learned response to getting sick with every attempt or thought of violence, this would be an example of spontaneous recovery. I don’t feel so well…

15. In A Clockwork Orange Humanism vs. Behaviorism

16. What’s the Difference? Humanistic Psychology A perspective that focuses on the study of conscious experience, the individual’s freedom to choose, and the individual’s capacity for personal growth. Humanists believe that humans cannot be reduced to various parts and pieces, like the brain, neurons, emotions, etc. Behaviorism The theory that psychology should only study observable behaviors, not mental processes. Behaviorism is somewhat limited because it does not examine the mental process that causes a behavior, it just examines the behavior.

17. Arguments for Each Humanistic Psychology “When a man ceases to choose, he ceases to be a man.” ~Preacher The classical conditioning just modifies behavior and doesn’t go to the cause of the problem, Alex’s mental processes. Harmful free will should be permitted, since goodness is authentic only if it is chosen; if goodness is forced, as is done to Alex through the conditioning, it is inhuman and mechanical. Behaviorism Free will allows Alex to commit his immoral acts initially. The classical conditioning allows for restricted free will, it eliminates harmful free will. Alex utilizes free will in volunteering for the procedure so, technically, the whole procedure is a result of free will. Clearly, there is a hidden conflict between humanism and behaviorism in the movie.

18. The Conflict as it Appears in the Movie Government = Behaviorism The government tries to alter Alex’s behavior through classical conditioning, a type of learning associated with behaviorism. Church & Public = Humanist Psychology The preacher in the jail tells Alex that, “When a man ceases to choose, he ceases to be a man.” The public outcries against the government, saying they took Alex’s free will away which led to his attempted suicide.

19. What did Alex learn?

20. What is Learning? Classical Definition of Learning the act or process of acquiring knowledge or skill. Knowledge Classical Conditioning Definition of Learning any relatively permanent change in behavior caused by experience. Behavior vs.

21. So did he learn anything? Classic Learning Definition…YES. During the course of the movie, Alex acquired knowledge and skill, whether it was not to trust anyone (i.e. his brothers and parents) or how to get out of jail early (volunteer for a new study). He also learned that violence is wrong and hurtful, not that he necessarily applied that knowledge. Classical Conditioning Definition…NO. Alex did undergo a short- term change in behavior through acquisition in that he experienced sickness at the thought or urge of violence. However, as evidenced by the end of the movie, Alex’s learned response has become extinct. Therefore, a long- term change in behavior did not occur…

22. According to the behaviorist definition of learning, the protagonist, Alex, in Stanley Kubrik’s A Clockwork Orange did not learn anything. His change in behavior in regards to his response to violence was not permanent, or even long-term. In the long-term, the experience he gained in the form of conditioning was extinguished. This is evidenced by Alex’s violent responses to the psychiatrist’s questions as well as his thinking about raping a women in the last scene; he did not get sick when committing or thinking about these acts of violence. He Learned Nothing! Before After  Learning