Chapter 4: Security Theory¹

Blatz defined security as “a state of consciousness which accompanies a willingness to accept the consequences of one’s own decisions or actions.” There are three main points in this definition:

The notion of “consequence” is not new to psychologists. Learning theorists acknowledge the crucial importance of reinforcement as a condition of learning. A particular activity is repeated and remembered when it has resulted in a favorable outcome—either it satisfies some need or it contributes to the satisfaction of a need.

In security theory, the concept of consequence may assume a broader meaning. Any activity has a consequence: the organism moves from point A to point B, or the hungry animal eats food and is satisfied. Security may also involve a remote consequence arbitrarily related to the activity. A high school student who comes home late one evening and who must forfeit his free evenings for the next week is an instance of a remote consequence. Indeed, in a complex society where social demands become attached to almost all aspects of human behavior, the remote or extrinsic consequences play a great part in determining security.