The Behavior Analyst 1993, 16, 167-175 No. 2 (Fall) Discriminating Utopian from Dystopian Literature: Why is Walden Two Considered a Dystopia? Bobby Newman Queens College and the Graduate Center, CUNY, and Queens Services for Autistic Citizens, Inc. Skinner thought of Walden Two as a utopia, but many literary critics consider it a dystopia. The present paper examines works by several authors of utopian literature in an effort to determine what elements lead critics to classify works as "dystopian." Common elements seem to include (a) suspicion ofscientific social planning, (b) the unhappiness of the characters portrayed, (c) suspicion of sources of control of behavior outside the individual, (d) violation of a presumed inherent need to struggle, and (e) suspicion ofbehavioral methods ofgovemance. The elements Walden Two shares with other utopias and dystopias are examined, and the conclusion is offered that Walden Two could not be considered a dystopia for any ofthe traditional reasons. Instead, the negative view of Walden Two seems to be an outgrowth ofliterary devices and general negative reactions to behavioral determinism. Key words: B. F. Skinner, Walden Two, utopia, dystopia The term utopia was coined by Sir often considered them otherwise (Ku- Thomas More in 1516 from the Greek mar, 1991). The fact that Walden Two words for "no" and "place." Since that was regarded as a utopia by its author but time, the term has served as the name as a dystopia by critics (e.g., Krutch, 1954; for a genre of fiction that describes so- Matson, 1976; Stevick, 1968; Walsh, cieties deemed to be either nearly perfect 1962) does not make Skinner's work or nearly perfectly horrible. The terms unique. Nonetheless, Walden Two seems dystopia or antiutopia have sometimes to have inspired fiercer objections than been used to characterize the latter (e.g., any other modem utopian novel. For ex- Kateb, 1963). ample, in his description of Walden Two, Walden Two is interesting from a lit- Frye (1965) stated that "its Philistine erary standpoint in that many non-be- vulgarity makes it a caricature ofthe ped- havior analysts did not believe Skinner antry of social science" (p. 32). was being serious when he wrote his nov- Critics of utopian and dystopian lit- el; they believed that he was in fact being erature (e.g., Davis, 1981; Kateb, 1963; satirical and presenting a dystopia. Neg- Kumar, 1987; Walsh, 1962) have iden- ley and Patrick (1952) originally thought tified several elements that lead to the as much. When they realized Skinner's classification of a given work as dysto- true intent, they denied the work entry pian. These elements include (a) suspi- into their summary ofutopias. They also cion of scientific social planning, (b) the referred to the children of Walden Two unhappiness ofthe characters portrayed, as "little guinea pigs" and spoke of the (c) suspicion of sources of control of be- novel's "nauseating conclusion" (p. 590). havior outside the individual, (d) viola- Ofcourse, many authors intended their tion of a presumed inherent need to novels to be either utopias or dystopias struggle, and (e) suspicion of behavioral but have been faced with critics who have methods of governance. This paper ar- gues that these elements do not provide I would like to thank Dawn M. Buffington, Don- an adequate basis for classifying dysto- ald A. Cook, John W. Eshleman, Claire L. Poulson, pias in general, and for classifying Wald- Richard F. Rakos, and Deborah Shanley for con- en Two as a dystopia in particular. The siderable conceptual and editorial assistance. Correspondence concerning this article should be negative reaction to Walden Two seems addressed to Bobby Newman, Psychology Depart- instead to be due to Skinner's literary de- ment, Queens College CUNY, Flushing, NY 11367. vices and to general negative reactions to 167 168 BOBBY NEWMAN the deterministic assumptions of behav- racy, considered by Wells (1923) to be ior analysis. the leading of credulous and ignorant masses by energetic and unscrupulous in- dividuals, has been abandoned in these SUSPICION OF SCIENTIFIC utopian visions. Instead, experts in par- SOCIAL PLANNING ticular disciplines make decisions regard- Scientific social planning, of course, ing policy in that area, subject to open presupposes an orderliness to behavior criticism. Policies are carried out because that we call behavioral determinism. This it is clear that they will lead to maximum idea is incongruent with viewpoints rang- long-term reinforcement. If they do not, ing from Christian theology to "third the policies or the planners are changed. force" humanism. Describing objections These Comtean expert-governed so- from the religious side, Stevick (1968) cieties make many uneasy (e.g., Burgess, satirized Frazier of Walden Two and 1978), and they inspired some ofthe dys- wrote, "The Church is a community topian novels under consideration. Many which must affirm freedom 'or its pro- critics fear that such utopias may make gram would be absurd"' (p. 10). Third individuality a thing of the past-an in- force humanists such as Matson (1976) tolerable loss (Kateb, 1963). Mumford also find behavioral determinism unac- (1965) sums up the issue as follows: "The ceptable: "There is so much that is wrong sugared concept of scientific control, with this behaviorist panacea -so much which B. F. Skinner insinuates into his that is patently silly and morally irre- Walden Two, is another name for ar- sponsible .. ." (p. 119). rested development" (p. 10). Frye (1965) Skinner's work has not been alone in notes that the work shows the "infantil- evoking such reactions. The utopian nov- ism of specialists who see society merely els of H. G. Wells, also based upon sci- as an extension of their own specialty" entific social planning, received similar (p. 32). responses (Kumar, 1991). E. M. Forster Nonetheless, the use of science in the (1928/1964) wrote the dystopia The Ma- design of a society, or a society attempt- chine Stops as "a counterblast to one of ing to live up to the ideal ofscience, need the heavens of H. G. Wells" (quoted in not lead to the novel being called a dys- Shusterman, 1965, p. 51). The dystopian topia. Huxley's Island (1962/1989) was novels Brave New World, We, and Nine- designed in this manner, and is generally teen Eighty-Four were also written as di- considered a utopian novel (Richter, rect reactions to Wellsian utopian novels 1971). The same could be said for New (Kumar, 1987). Atlantis, Campanella's City of the Sun Wells and Skinner are alike in other (1602/1885), and other visions that are ways. For example, they share the view generally considered utopian (Berneri, that not to act does not avoid control of 1969; Eurich, 1967). It seems that the use behavior, but merely leaves control to of science as a means of social design is other sources (e.g., Skinner, 1971). The not enough to create a dystopia. supposed noninfluence of "neutral" One of the factors that most readily stances is illusory (e.g., Wells, 1905/ accounts for the controversy surrounding 1967): Skinner's vision of utopia is its seeming proximity and possibility. As stated by A state powerful enough to keep isolated under modem conditions would be powerful enough to Skinner (1979), rule the world, would be, indeed, if not actively Walden Two was not an escape to a distant island, ruling, yet passively acquiescent in all other human to a "No-where," or to a future time. As Frazier organizations, and so responsible for them alto- said, it differed from the classical utopias precisely gether. (p. 12) because it was to be found (and could be believed Taking their lead from Bacon's New in) here and now. (p. 349) Atlantis (1980), both Wells and Skinner Other novels were set on a different plan- seek to describe societies in which science et (e.g., Wells's A Modern Utopia), on the forms the basis ofpublic policy. Democ- moon (e.g., Wells's The First Men in the WALDEN TWO 169 Moon), in a distant land (e.g., Bacon's the original 20th century champion of New Atlantis, More's Utopia, Huxley's behaviorism (Watson, 1924/1970) was Island), in another dimension (e.g., quite frank in stating his belief that ap- Wells's Men Like Gods), or at some fu- plied behaviorism could lead to a utopia: ture time (e.g., Bellamy's Looking Back- I am trying to dangle a stimulus in front of you, a ward; Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451; Bur- verbal stimulus which, ifacted upon, will gradually gess'sA Clockwork Orange; Forster's The change this universe. For this universe will change Machine Stops; Huxley's Brave New if you bring up your children, not in the freedom of the libertine, but in behavioristic freedom.... World; Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four; Will not these children, in turn, with their better Rand's Anthem; Wells's The Time Ma- ways of living and thinking, replace us as society chine, The World Set Free, and The and in turn bring up their children in a still more Dream; Zamiatin's We). Walden Two, scientific way, until the world finally becomes a however, could be enacted here and now, place fit for human habitation? (pp. 303-304) and numerous experiments have already The ideas of Watson and Skinner pre- shown the power ofthe behavior-analytic sented in a nonfictional format inspired system upon which Skinner's utopia is hostility and misunderstanding. The por- based. The existence ofcommunities in- trayal of scientific planning of society in spired by Skinner's vision (e.g., Com- a fictional format should be expected to munidad Los Horcones, 1989) helps to do no less.