Los Horcones

Los Horcones. It is an intentional community founded in 1973 in the Sonoran Desert of northwestern Mexico, based on the principles of B.F. Skinner's behavior analysis and the model described in his novel Walden Two. Founded by psychologists Juan Robinson Bours and María del Rayo Robinson, it represents one of the longest-running and most comprehensive attempts to create a society guided by scientific and cooperative principles, aiming to design a culturally engineered environment that promotes prosocial behavior and sustainability.

History

The community was established in 1973 by a small group led by Juan Robinson Bours and María del Rayo Robinson, graduates influenced by the University of Veracruz and the works of B.F. Skinner. Seeking to implement the ideas from Walden Two, they selected a remote area in Sonora, initially facing significant challenges in developing infrastructure in a harsh desert climate. Over decades, Los Horcones has evolved from a pioneering utopian experiment into a stable, though small, community, attracting researchers and visitors interested in applied behavior analysis and communal living. Its history is marked by a continuous process of self-design based on behavioral science, distinguishing it from many other intentional communities founded in the same era, such as Twin Oaks Community in Virginia.

Philosophy and principles

The foundational philosophy is rooted in radical behaviorism, the psychological school developed by B.F. Skinner, which views all behavior as a product of environmental contingencies. The community explicitly aims to practice cultural design or cultural engineering, systematically applying principles of operant conditioning and positive reinforcement to shape a cooperative and peaceful social system. Core principles include equality, cooperation, non-violence, and sustainability, all pursued through a scientific framework. This approach extends to their educational system, termed comprehensive application of behavior analysis to schooling, which rejects traditional punishment in favor of creating supportive learning environments.

Community structure and daily life

Decision-making is conducted through a planner-manager system inspired by Walden Two, where elected planners set long-term policy and managers oversee specific areas like childcare, education, and maintenance. The community raises children collectively, with a strong emphasis on a designed educational environment from infancy. Daily life integrates work, leisure, and social activities, with members rotating through various labor contributions to avoid monotony and promote skill-sharing. Living arrangements are communal, with shared facilities for dining, recreation, and child rearing, fostering a strong sense of collective identity and mutual support among its members.

Economic activities

The community sustains itself through a diversified set of agroecological and service-oriented enterprises. Primary activities include organic farming of dates and other crops suited to the Sonoran Desert, beekeeping for honey production, and the manufacture of natural products like soap and candles. A significant portion of its income is generated by offering workshops, seminars, and consulting services in applied behavior analysis and Walden Two principles to external professionals, students, and organizations. This blend of agriculture and knowledge-based services allows for a degree of economic self-sufficiency while maintaining their experimental and educational mission.

Influence and legacy

Los Horcones has exerted a notable influence within the fields of behavior analysis and utopian studies, serving as a real-world reference for the application of Skinnerian principles to community living. It has been the subject of numerous academic papers, presentations at conferences like those of the Association for Behavior Analysis International, and documentaries. While remaining small, its longevity has provided unique, long-term data on cultural design and sustainable living. The community's legacy is as a living laboratory that continues to challenge conventional notions about social organization, education, and the potential for scientifically designed utopian communities. Category:Intentional communities Category:Communal living Category:Utopian communities