Our Rodent Selfies: A Photographer’s Experiment with Rats and Behaviorism

In the article “Our Rodent Selfies: A Photographer’s Experiment with Rats and Behaviorism,” professional photographer Augustin Lignier takes a unique approach to understanding our obsession with capturing and sharing photographs. Inspired by the work of behaviorist B.F. Skinner, Lignier builds a photo booth for rats, allowing them to take selfies by pressing a button that rewards them with a small dose of sugar.

As the rats become hooked on the intermittent rewards, Lignier draws parallels to the captivating nature of digital and social media, which also use unpredictable rewards to keep users engaged. This thought-provoking experiment raises questions about the ways we seek validation and stimulation in the modern world, as well as our reluctance to be alone with our thoughts.

Our Rodent Selfies: A Photographer’s Experiment with Rats and Behaviorism

Background

In today’s digital age, the act of photographing our lives and sharing those images online has become a common behavior. But have you ever stopped to question why we feel compelled to engage in this activity? This is the very question that professional photographer Augustin Lignier began pondering during his graduate school years in Paris. As he delved deeper into the motivations behind our obsession with capturing and sharing photographs, he embarked on an extraordinary experiment involving rats and behaviorism.

Building a Rat Photo Booth

Lignier drew inspiration from the renowned behaviorist B.F. Skinner, who developed a test chamber called the Skinner box to study learning in rats. In the Skinner box, rats received food pellets as rewards for pressing a designated lever. Fascinated by this concept, Lignier decided to construct a similar apparatus, which he called the “rat photo booth.” This transparent tower-like structure housed a camera that was triggered each time a rat pressed a button inside the box.

Training the Rats

To initiate his experiment, Lignier introduced two pet-store rats into the photo booth. Whenever these rats pressed the button within the box, they were rewarded with a small dose of sugar, and simultaneously, the camera captured their image. These images were then displayed on a screen within the booth, allowing the rats to view their own photographs. Although it is unlikely that the rats comprehended the significance of the images, they quickly became avid button pressers.

Unpredictable Rewards

After successfully training the rats to associate button pressing with receiving sugar and having their photos taken, Lignier introduced a new element into the experiment – unpredictable rewards. Although the rats were still photographed each time they pressed the button, the delivery of sugar became intermittent and irregular. This deliberate use of intermittent rewards is known to be highly effective in maintaining behavioral responses. Just as animals become glued to their experimental slot machines in anticipation of the next reward, the rats in Lignier’s experiment persisted in pressing the button, even when the sugar reward was not guaranteed.

Parallels with Digital and Social Media

Lignier draws a compelling parallel between the behavior of rats in his experiment and viewer attention in the realm of digital and social media. Digital platforms deploy intermittent and unpredictable rewards, such as likes, follows, and matches, to keep users engaged for extended periods. This technique mirrors the behavior of the rats in Lignier’s experiment, highlighting the shared concept of capturing and sustaining attention.

The Reward of Button Pressing

Exploring the allure of button pressing, Lignier notes that humans, too, are drawn to repetitive activities involving button pressing. In a 2014 study, researchers observed that individuals exhibited a preference for administering electric shocks to themselves rather than being left alone with their own thoughts. This finding suggests that pressing buttons, even if it leads to negative experiences, may be more appealing than engaging in quiet contemplation.

Preference for Distraction

A study referenced by Lignier indicates a human inclination towards distraction rather than contemplation. This tendency aligns with the behavior observed in the rats, who displayed persistent button pressing despite intermittent rewards. It appears that the rats, like humans, may opt for mindless actions rather than engaging in introspection.

The Appeal of Rat Selfies

Throughout the course of his experiment, Lignier documented numerous rat selfies. He found these images to be both adorable and enjoyable. This reaction underscores the inherent cuteness and fun factor of rat photography, highlighting the ability of unexpected subjects like rodents to provide entertainment value.

Social Media as a Skinner Box

Drawing on the parallels observed between rat behavior and digital/social media engagement, Lignier discusses how social media platforms can be viewed as Skinner boxes for humans. Periodic, unpredictable rewards, such as likes and comments, keep individuals captivated, driving them to continuously scroll through their feeds in anticipation of the next reward. Just as rats persist in button pressing, we persist in our digital interactions, seeking our own form of reward.

Conclusion

Lignier’s experiment with rats and behaviorism offers valuable insights into the motivations and behaviors of both rodents and humans. By drawing connections between the training of rats in his photo booth and our engagement with digital and social media platforms, Lignier brings to light the profound impact of intermittent rewards on sustained attention. Furthermore, his exploration of the allure of button pressing highlights our preference for mindless actions over contemplation. This experiment prompts us to reflect on our own behaviors in the digital age and consider the role of technology and rewards in shaping our actions and engagement with the world around us.

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