View source for Philosophy:Communal reinforcement

{{short description|Social phenomenon}}

'''Communal reinforcement''' is a [[Social:Socialization|social phenomenon]] in which a concept or idea is repeatedly asserted in a [[Social:Community|community]], regardless of whether sufficient [[Empirical evidence|empirical evidence]] has been presented to support it.<ref>{{Google books |id=6FPqDFx40vYC |page=80 |title=The Skeptic's Dictionary: A Collection of Strange Beliefs, Amusing Deceptions, and Dangerous Delusions }}</ref> Over time, the concept or idea is reinforced to become a strong [[Philosophy:Belief|belief]] in many people's minds, and may be regarded by the members of the community as fact. Often, the concept or idea may be further reinforced by publications in the [[Social:Mass media|mass media]], books, or other means of communication.  The phrase "millions of people can't all be wrong" is indicative of the common tendency to accept a communally reinforced idea without question, which often aids in the widespread acceptance of factoids. A very similar term to this term is '''community-reinforcement''', which is a behavioral method to stop drug addiction.<ref>{{Google books |id=yhWB-JOQMUgC |page=149 |title=Introduction to Addictive Behaviors }}</ref>

==In addiction treatment==
The community-reinforcement approach (CRA) is a behaviourist  [[Medicine:Alcoholism|alcoholism]] [[Chemistry:Therapy|treatment]] approach that aims to achieve abstinence by eliminating positive reinforcement for drinking and enhancing positive reinforcement for sobriety. CRA integrates several treatment components, including building the client's motivation to quit drinking, helping the client initiate sobriety, analyzing the client's drinking pattern, increasing positive reinforcement, learning new coping behaviors, and involving significant others in the recovery process. These components can be adjusted to the individual client's needs to achieve optimal treatment outcome. In addition, treatment outcome can be influenced by factors such as therapist style and initial treatment intensity. Several studies have provided evidence for CRA's effectiveness in achieving abstinence. Furthermore, CRA has been successfully integrated with a variety of other treatment approaches, such as family therapy and motivational interviewing, and has been tested in the treatment of other drug abuse.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh23-2/116-121.pdf.html |title=Brochures and Fact Sheets &#124; National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) |access-date=2011-11-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810175501/https://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh23-2/116-121.pdf.html |archive-date=2018-08-10 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Community reinforcement and family training (CRAFT) is an adaptation of CRA that is aimed at giving the Concerned Significant Others (CSOs) of alcoholics skills to help them get the alcoholic into treatment.

==In other applications==
In [[Biography:Chris Stout (psychologist)|Chris E. Stout]]'s book ''The Psychology of Terrorism: Theoretical Understandings and Perspective'', Stout explains how community reinforcement is present in the psychotic state of terrorists. "The individual would feel less charged, validated, courageous, sanctified, and zealous, and would feel exposed as an individual." It is believed that the group mentality of a terrorist organization solidifies the mission of the group through communal reinforcement. Members are more likely to stay dedicated and follow through with the event of terror if they receive support from fellow terrorist members. An individual might abandon the mission in terror, but with the reinforcement of his peers, a member is more likely to stay involved.<ref>{{Google books |id=5BHgVzlHGYUC |page=131 |title=The Psychology of Terrorism: Theoretical Understandings and Perspectives }}</ref>

==See also==
{{div col}}
*{{annotated link|Philosophy:Argumentum ad populum|''Argumentum ad populum''|aka=Appeal to the population}}
*{{annotated link|Social:Asch conformity experiments}}
*{{annotated link|Philosophy:Bandwagon effect}}
*{{annotated link|Social:Indoctrination}}
*{{annotated link|Philosophy:Collective consciousness}}
*{{annotated link|Confirmation bias}}
*{{annotated link|Conformity}}
*{{annotated link|Social:Crowd manipulation}}
*{{annotated link|Groupthink}}
*{{annotated link|Philosophy:Group polarization}}
*{{annotated link|Philosophy:Meme}}
*{{annotated link|Social:Overton window}}
*{{annotated link|Social:Peer pressure}}
*{{annotated link|Social:Selective exposure theory}}
*{{annotated link|Philosophy:Social constructionism}}
*{{annotated link|Social:Social proof}}
*{{annotated link|Philosophy:Spiral of silence}}
*{{annotated link|Philosophy:Truthiness}}
{{div col end}}

==References==
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{{Conformity}}

[[Category:Belief]]
[[Category:Community]]
[[Category:Social phenomena]]

{{Sourceattribution|Communal reinforcement}}