B.F. SKINNER

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B.F. SKINNER
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Behaviourism Key Theorists
Watson
Skinner
Pavlov
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WHAT IS BEHAVIOURISM?

• The theory of behaviourism is based around the
  idea that all behaviours are acquired through
  conditioning which occurs during interaction
  within the surrounding environment.
• Believe it is unnecessary to speculate about the
  internal mental processes when explaining
  behaviour.
• Based of the beliefs that behaviours can be
  measured, trained and changed.
• Regard all behaviour as a response to a stimulus.
  Assumes all learners are passive, responding to
  the environment

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KEY IDEAS

1. Deterministic- The way you act is determined by
   external stimuli provided by the culture in which
   you live (operant conditioning. What we do is
   determined by the environment we are in
2. Observable- over time the individual develops a
   behavioural repertoire (Steinberg,1980) that
   can but used to predict behaviour
3. Controllable- desirable behaviours can be brought
   about by incentives, undesirable behaviours can
   ne eradicated by consequences or punishment

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TYPES OF CONDITIONING

• There are two types
• Classical conditioning a naturally occurring
  stimulus is paired with a response.
• Operant conditioning a method of learning what
  occurs via reward and punishment based on
  behaviour.

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CLASSICAL CONDITIONING IN THE CLASSROOM

• Teachers and fellow peers affect how you feel
  when you enter a classroom
• When a teacher creates a friendly environment in
  the class, the pupils will generally feel
  comfortable entering the class.

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Radical Behaviourism

• Developed by B.F.Skinner who describes a
  particular school that emerged during the reign
  of behaviourism. What differentiates his ideas is
  his recognition of the major differences in the
  acceptance of mediating structures and the role
  of emotions
• A human being according to this concept has life
  determined for them since they are a product of
  the culture that causes them to be as they are.

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THE MANY TYPES OF BEHAVIOURISM

• There is no one agreed upon classification of the
  behaviourism theory
• Methodological
• Radical Skinner
• Teleological
• Theoretical
• Psycological

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STRENGHTS OF BEHAVIOURISM

• It is based upon behaviour which can clearly be
  observed and assessed it is easier to conduct
  research and collect conclusive results.
• Therapy treatments that all stem from
  behaviourism (ie behaviour analysis, behavioural
  intervention etc) have been very useful in
  changing harmful behaviour in both children and
  adults.

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CRITICISMS OF BEHAVIOURISM

• It is argued that the theory of behaviourism can
  be deemed one dimensional when trying to
  understand human behaviour it does not take into
  account the free will or other influences such as
  mood or feelings which can all easily change a
  persons response.
• The theory of behaviourism does not account for
  other learning types that do not use
  reinforcement and punishment.

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BEHAVIOURISM VS COGNITIVISM

• The behaviourism theory is often contrasted with
  the theory of cognitivism.
• The theory of cognitivism was a response to the
  initial behaviourism theory whilst behaviourism
  is the study of behaviour for the purpose of
  identifying its determinants, cognitivism is the
  study of mental processes through the scientific
  method and abstractions from behaviour.

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B. F. Skinner - Profile

• Full Name Burrhus Frederic Skinner
• Born 20/03/1904
• Place of Birth Pensylvania, U.S.A.
• Died 18/08/1990
• Place of Death Massachusetts, U.S.A.
• Education
• Studied English at Hamilton College with the
  intention of becoming a writer.
• Later obtained a degree in English Literature
  from Harvard in 1926.
• After reading John B. Watsons Behaviorism,
  obtained a Masters in Psychology from Harvard.
• Skinner then furthered his research in
  Psychology and recieved a PhD, again from
  Harvard, where he remained until 1936 as a
  researcher.
• Main Theories Positive Negative Reinforcement,
  Operant Behavior, Escape Learning, Avoidence
  Learning and Behavior Modification.

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Positive Reinforcement
Definition Conditioning behaviour by rewarding
the subject when the desired behaviour is
demonstrated. For example When a child is
learning to speak, clapping and cheering when the
child correctly says a word or identifies an
object. Advantages Makes the subject feel more
willing to behave correctly and makes them feel
more free to make the decision.
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Negative Reinforcement
Definition Conditioning behaviour by punishing
the subject when incorrect behaviour is
demonstrated. For example When a child does
something wrong, such as biting, telling the
child off or taking away a toy. Advantages
Teaches the subject the hard way meaning that
they are much less likely to repeat the
behaviour. Disadvantages Makes the subject feel
oppressed and like they have no free will to make
their own choices.
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Respondents and Operants

• A respondent is when your behaviour changes in
  light of an external event
• An operant is when you change your behaviour in
  light of an external event
• We are not able to control respondents whereas,
  operants are behaviours of our own accord
• Operants can cause consequences due to our
  choice of behaviour

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Key Skinner Terms

• Periodic Reconditioning when reinforcement
  is constantly put in place to encourage regular
  positive responses
• Extinction Ratio the amount of responses
  generated per reinforcement
• Psuedo Reflex when someone only responds
  when a stimulus is put in place
• Escape Learning when you know you must do
  something in order to make something else happen
• Avoidance Learning when you must do something
  to avoid a certain consequence occurring

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Skinners Skinner Box Experiments

• Skinner chose provide evidence for his theories
  through experiments using rats, pigeons and males
  
• He used different experiments to show differing
  changes in behaviour
• However, the problem with these experiments was
  that humans and animals behave in differing ways
  which alters the reliability of his results

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Results of The Skinner Box Experiments

• Skinner tested Operant Behaviour using rats and
  food, as when food was released the rat soon
  began to recognise the noise and immediately knew
  it was about to be fed.
• Skinner then developed upon this by inputting a
  device whereby the rat stood on it and food was
  released which meant the rat could feed itself

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Results of The Skinner Box Experiments Continued

• The role of this noise switched to being a
  reinforcer to provide a link to the food for
  the rat
• When Skinner removed the device the rat soon knew
  it would not get food via this method so stopped
  standing on it
• Skinner used negative reinforcement on a
  regular basis until eventually he had trained the
  rats to press the lever when a light came on and
  to press the lever to evade the electrical
  current which was evidence of escape learning
  and avoidance learning

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References

• Skinner, B.F., and Dowling, W. F. (1973)
  Conversation with B . F. Skinner. Organizational
  Dynamics, 1, p.31-40 .
• Demorest, A. (2005) Psychologys Grand Theorists
  How Personal Experiences Shaped Professional
  Ideas, New Jersey, Lawrence Eribaum Associates.
• Hillgard, E.R (1948) Theories of Learning The
  Century Psychology Series, New York,
  Appleton-Century-Crofts.
• Grace, E. (2012) Kids Development, Available
  from http//www.kidsdevelopment.co.uk/bfskinnersbe
  haviouraltheory.html Accessed 18th October 2012
• Boeree, C. G. (2006) B.F. Skinner, Biography,
  Available from http//webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/s
  kinner.html Accessed 20th Obctober 2012
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