Behind the facade

Edited book (chapter)


James, Kieran. 2011. "Behind the facade." Crew, Singa (ed.) Singapore sucks!. Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. Gerakbudaya Enterprises. pp. 97-100
Chapter Title

Behind the facade

Book Chapter CategoryEdited book (chapter)
Book TitleSingapore sucks!
Authors
AuthorJames, Kieran
EditorsCrew, Singa
Page Range97-100
Number of Pages3
Year2011
PublisherGerakbudaya Enterprises
Place of PublicationPetaling Jaya, Malaysia
ISBN9789834479398
Abstract

I shall simply begin my introduction to a literary masterpiece with a letter sent to me by a client. His name has been changed to protect his privacy.
Dear Dr. Algernon,
I am Balan. I am a factory worker of Singapore Inc. We produce all types of electronic stuff including radios and hand phones. Recently, I got into big trouble at the factory and I am worried I may lose my job. I was accused of defamation and of disloyalty and everyone hates me now.
.....Dr. Algernon, I am confused. Am I a disloyal worker or just someone who's afraid of rocketing costs?
Reply
Well, my dear Balan, I do not think you are being disloyal at all. You were simply a product of Skinnerian conditioning. B.F. Skinner, a behaviourist, believed in operant conditioning which is a method of learning that occurs through rewards and punishments for behaviour.

Keywordsworking conditions; Singapore; factory; industrial relations; reward and punishment
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020470202. Asian cultural studies
470212. Multicultural, intercultural and cross-cultural studies
441004. Social change
470210. Globalisation and culture
470203. Consumption and everyday life
470213. Postcolonial studies
470214. Screen and media culture
441016. Urban sociology and community studies
430301. Asian history
Public Notes

This is a non-reportable item.
This is a poem in an edited book of poems and short stories about contemporary Singaporean culture and politics. The publisher is an academic press in Malaysia.
Copyright © of all submitted texts that appear in this book belong to the individual authors. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Byline AffiliationsSchool of Accounting, Economics and Finance
Institution of OriginUniversity of Southern Queensland
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