Final answer:
In Chapter 4 of Night, Eliezer experiences a significant shift in his behavior and mentality. He loses faith and becomes apathetic towards others. B.F. Skinner's theory on operant conditioning can be related to these changes, as Eliezer's behavior is shaped by the harsh consequences of the concentration camp. To revert to his earlier, more optimistic way of viewing the world, Eliezer would need to experience positive reinforcement or rewards.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Chapter 4, Eliezer's behavior and mentality undergo significant changes. One way Eliezer changes is in his loss of faith. He begins to question the existence of God and becomes disillusioned with the idea of a benevolent higher power. This change is evident when he witnesses the hanging of a young pipel and wonders where God is in such cruelty.
Another change in Eliezer's behavior is his increasing apathy and indifference towards others. As the atrocities of the Holocaust continue to unfold, Eliezer becomes desensitized to the suffering of those around him. This is exemplified when Eliezer witnesses the culinary workers fighting over a cauldron of soup but doesn't intervene, despite being hungry himself.
B.F. Skinner's theory on operant conditioning can be related to these changes in Eliezer. According to Skinner's theory, behavior is shaped by consequences. In the case of Eliezer, the harsh and dehumanizing conditions of the concentration camp act as punishments, reinforcing his loss of faith and indifference towards others. The constant exposure to cruelty and suffering leads Eliezer to adapt his behavior to survive, which ultimately results in these changes.
In order for Eliezer to revert to his earlier, more optimistic way of viewing the world, Skinner would argue that he would need to experience positive reinforcement or rewards. For example, if Eliezer were to encounter acts of kindness or witness acts of resistance against the Nazis, it could potentially shift his mindset and restore his faith in humanity.