The consideration of ‘inner processors’ in the mathematical theory of communication or its applications to psychology followed normal scientific and engineering practice. The crucial step in Richard Herrnstein’s ‘syllogism’ in effect amounts to the claim that the ideology of capitalist society expresses universal traits of human nature, and that certain related implicit assumptions of behaviourist psychology are correct. He argues that ‘success’ requires mental ability and that social rewards ‘depend on success’. Still accepting his assumption that individuals labour only for gain, if the reward is prestige, then performance can be assured generally by granting prestige to each individual to the extent that he achieves in accordance with his abilities, whatever his task. There are other ideological elements in Herrnstein's argument, more peripheral but still worth noting. He invariably describes the society he sees evolving as a ‘meritocracy’, thus expressing the value judgment that the characteristics that yield reward are a sign of merit, that is, positive characteristics.
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