By the 1950s, and Accelerating in the 1960s, the Moderately

question 109

Essay

By the 1950s, and accelerating in the 1960s, the moderately liberal fraction of the white elite was pressing for a softening of blatantly racist prejudices and for new group-based remedies. Explain this change of heart in terms of Derrick Bell's theory of "interest convergence."

---

Definitions:

Variable-Interval Schedule

A type of reinforcement schedule where reinforcements are provided at unpredictable time intervals, promoting steady response rates.

Postreinforcement Pause

A moment of no response or inactivity that occurs just after reinforcement in a fixed-interval schedule of reinforcement in operant conditioning.

Fixed Ratio Schedule

A reinforcement schedule in operant conditioning where a response is reinforced only after a specified number of responses, promoting a high and steady rate of responding.

Operant Conditioning

A method of learning where the intensity of a behavior is altered through rewards or penalties.