Don't Live the Pigeon Life

I was listening to a video this morning on the principle of programming an animal to do something, in regard to how people can also be programmed.

B.F. Skinner did an experiment with pigeons. He allowed the pigeons to press a button and a treat would come out. When they pushed the button and nothing came out they would leave after several tries.

However if they pushed the button a few times and the treat came out randomly, every other time or after three pushes, the pigeon would remain pushing until a treat would come. They would stay there and continue to push even though they never knew how many times a treat would emerge.

This is the principle of the gambling industry, if they allow the customer to win at the slot machines a little in the beginning and randomly after, then the person will stay even when nothing is coming out. They will put in their coins continually as long as there is some reward at some time, even if its small because in their minds the next one might be the big one.

People at the gambling houses in front of the slot machines are "pigeons" because they have been programmed to keep trying even when nothing is coming out. "The Royal We"

This is the same with relationships, a narcissist can treat us very badly several times in a row, but if they sneak in a little niceness once in awhile, we remain hoping for the next time that they will show a little friendliness. They only display friendliness, not kindness, they are two different things. When they think our guard is down and they have sucked us back in, they will begin their dastardly actions and reactions all over again.

We don't have to be like pigeons, unless we were bird brains. We have enough thinking power to decide whether or not we want to be continually abused by those who get pleasure out of demeaning and mocking those they wish to dominate.

I promise, it is better to be alone with God than to remain with an abuser simply to keep from being lonely. But we don't have to be without people. Pray that the Lord will bring you to others who agree on important matter and value you, is the best course of action. There are plenty out there who would love and value you, even if only on facebook.

There is a wonderful place, that place is the place of peace dwelling with Christ. He will bring others into your life when He is ready for us to have human companions. One good friend is enough, crowds don't usually foster close relationships, it is best to hold out for the deeper relationships that help us grow and want what we have to offer too.

Proverbs 18:24 "A man of too many friends comes to ruin,
But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."