Jeff Hayman (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} doktor_quack) wrote,@ 2010-01-05 19:21:00 |
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The Dog Leash - Freedom Paradox
A couple of days ago, I decided to walk my dogs, so I got out the leashes, and sure enough, the dogs immediately sprang up from their deep sleep, ran over to me and proceeded to go mad. Any dog owner knows that dogs get excited for nothing more than walks. If there is any indication that a walk might occur sometime in the immediate future, they are certain to be running around, barking, wagging, and carrying on like they just won the dog-lottery. Once the dog owner touches a leash, it's all over. The leash is the final indicator that a walk is to follow. Nothing excites a dog more than a leash.
But why do dogs like walks? My guess is, to them, a walk is the pinnacle of their allowed freedom outside of the home. Dogs are restricted to their houses or their backyards and very rarely get to explore the neighborhood. A walk is the only time they can extend their boundaries, smell smells they've never smelled, meet dogs they've never met, etc. To a dog, being on a walk is being free.
It's interesting then that a leash, possibly the most restrictive device a dog ever encounters, is what the dog associates the most strongly with walking/freedom. It makes sense though: the dog never walks without the leash. Hence, the leash, being a requisite, makes it possible for the dog to be free. Or rather, unparalleled restriction is what gives the dog liberty. At least to the dog, which has no concept of walks without leashes.
Thus, through conditioning, we have successfully fooled the dog into associating the item that keeps it the most captive with the freedom which gives it the most joy. The dog loves the leash because, to the dog, the leash sets it free. In fact, the leash is probably the dog's most beloved object. And yet, the leash more than anything, is the dog's enemy in its quest for freedom, for a dog is never controlled as much as it is when leashed. This is a frightening reality of psychology we can perhaps apply to ourselves and society. What in our lives do we love by association that actually keeps us down? What kind of Stockholm Syndrome is inherent in our system? And furthermore, how can evil madmen use this to their advantage to control us?
A couple of days ago, I decided to walk my dogs, so I got out the leashes, and sure enough, the dogs immediately sprang up from their deep sleep, ran over to me and proceeded to go mad. Any dog owner knows that dogs get excited for nothing more than walks. If there is any indication that a walk might occur sometime in the immediate future, they are certain to be running around, barking, wagging, and carrying on like they just won the dog-lottery. Once the dog owner touches a leash, it's all over. The leash is the final indicator that a walk is to follow. Nothing excites a dog more than a leash.
But why do dogs like walks? My guess is, to them, a walk is the pinnacle of their allowed freedom outside of the home. Dogs are restricted to their houses or their backyards and very rarely get to explore the neighborhood. A walk is the only time they can extend their boundaries, smell smells they've never smelled, meet dogs they've never met, etc. To a dog, being on a walk is being free.
It's interesting then that a leash, possibly the most restrictive device a dog ever encounters, is what the dog associates the most strongly with walking/freedom. It makes sense though: the dog never walks without the leash. Hence, the leash, being a requisite, makes it possible for the dog to be free. Or rather, unparalleled restriction is what gives the dog liberty. At least to the dog, which has no concept of walks without leashes.
Thus, through conditioning, we have successfully fooled the dog into associating the item that keeps it the most captive with the freedom which gives it the most joy. The dog loves the leash because, to the dog, the leash sets it free. In fact, the leash is probably the dog's most beloved object. And yet, the leash more than anything, is the dog's enemy in its quest for freedom, for a dog is never controlled as much as it is when leashed. This is a frightening reality of psychology we can perhaps apply to ourselves and society. What in our lives do we love by association that actually keeps us down? What kind of Stockholm Syndrome is inherent in our system? And furthermore, how can evil madmen use this to their advantage to control us?
