...Tony E. McCaffity PSY390 Learning and Cognition Individual Programmatic Assessment: Operant Conditioning October 27, 2014 Describe the theory of Operant Conditioning The theory of Operant Conditioning is developed the behaviorist B. F. Skinner. Operant Conditioning according to Skinner is based on the observing the causes of the action and its consequences. Skinner’s used this approach to study observable behavior instead of the internal mental activity. Though his study Skinner, found that behavior reinforced usually becomes repeated, and reinforced behavior will often extinguishes. Skinner believed that learning is a function of overt behavior and changes in an individual’s behavior is a result of events that occur in the individual’s environment (Morris &Maisto, 2005). B.F. Skinner focused on the observable behavior and how that act related to experimental conditions. From his studies Skinner developed several theories relating to operant conditioning. The changing of a behavior by-way of certain types of reinforcements after a response is achieved is referred to as operant conditioning. “In operant conditioning, the emphasis is on behavior and its consequences; with operant conditioning, the organism must respond in such a way as to produce the reinforcing stimulus. The principles of operant conditioning apply to a variety of situations (Olson &Hergenhahn, 2009, p. 76). According to Olson &Hergenhahn...
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...results that a person desires. Operant conditioning is the prudent method to use to reach such goals. B. F. Skinner, the behaviorist that came up with the operant conditioning theory, began the innovative experiments that led to the detection of the effects of positive and negative reinforcements. These two methods are effective tools that alter behavior in any home, school, or social environment that a person could manifest unpredictable behavior. The schedule of reinforcement is also a vital component of the learning process, which maintains positive behavior and a constant rate of response. The theory of operant conditioning Operant conditioning is an acclimatizing method of learning in which an individual’s behavior modifies by the use of positive or negative reinforcement. Therefore, the individual’s behavior changes in use, regularity, and strength. Operant conditioning came to be notable from classical conditioning; entails the conditioning of reflex behaviors, which stimulates by the manifestations of precursor conditions. The difference between the two is that classical conditioning does not uphold its method by the use of reinforcement. Alternatively, operant conditioning uses reinforcement to modify voluntary behavior. American psychologist Burrhus Frederic Skinner, mostly known by B. F. Skinner, was the first to revolutionize the term “operant conditioning.” Skinner develops his theory by creating the operant conditioning box or Skinner box, which he uses in the...
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...Tony E. McCaffity PSY390 Learning and Cognition Individual Programmatic Assessment: Operant Conditioning October 27, 2014 Describe the theory of Operant Conditioning The theory of Operant Conditioning is developed the behaviorist B. F. Skinner. Operant Conditioning according to Skinner is based on the observing the causes of the action and its consequences. Skinner’s used this approach to study observable behavior instead of the internal mental activity. Though his study Skinner, found that behavior reinforced usually becomes repeated, and reinforced behavior will often extinguishes. Skinner believed that learning is a function of overt behavior and changes in an individual’s behavior is a result of events that occur in the individual’s environment (Morris &Maisto, 2005). B.F. Skinner focused on the observable behavior and how that act related to experimental conditions. From his studies Skinner developed several theories relating to operant conditioning. The changing of a behavior by-way of certain types of reinforcements after a response is achieved is referred to as operant conditioning. “In operant conditioning, the emphasis is on behavior and its consequences; with operant conditioning, the organism must respond in such a way as to produce the reinforcing stimulus. The principles of operant conditioning apply to a variety of situations (Olson &Hergenhahn, 2009, p. 76). According to Olson &Hergenhahn 2009, behavior can be...
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...B. F. Skinner An Inspiration in Psychology Kimberly Whitmore PSY3421, Psychology of Learning and Motivation Abstract Burrhus Fredrick Skinner, a son, literary writer, husband, father and most important an inspiration in the psychology world. B.F. Skinner born March 20, 1904, in a small railroad town in Pennsylvania, was a creative child who liked to think out side the box. Skinner was a behaviorist, which means he seeks out the explanation to human behavior not in the mind but outside within the environment that collectively determines behavior. In the opinion of his professional peers, he was the most influential psychologist in the country. Over his career in Psychology, Skinner also faced criticisms, especially when it came to the Air Crib. Skinner was a revolution to the times in psychology, with his research, his workings with the military, experiments on dogs, pigeons and rodents to his observational findings. His philosophies of behaviorism still play a major part in the psychology world today. Skinner is the most important American psychologist of the twentieth century, and arguably the most important world psychologist. No issue seemed too large or too small for his observant eye and his analytic insights. 1. A Skinner Family Background. 2. How did Skinner make his way in to Psychology? 3. What is the cumulative recorder? 4. What is the operant conditioning chamber; also know as Skinner’s Box? 5. What is operant behavior? 6. The Air...
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...Learning will lead to a change in behavior, in other words, the results of learning must always be translated into observable behavior. After learning, learners are capable of doing something that they could not do before the learning took place (Olson M. H. & Hergenhahn, B. R. 2009). To study learning, behavior is required or there is no way for it to take place. Behavior is changed through conditioning, and there are two types of conditioning mentioned in this paper. Classical Conditioning was discovered by Pavlov during the 1890s, and it was discovered by accident with him doing something as simple as feeding his dogs. Another type of learning is through Operant Conditioning, discovered by B. F. Skinner. This conditioning is described as the behavior being followed by a consequence, and it occurs through the tendency to repeat the behavior. Classical Conditioning is the type of learning introduced by Ivan Pavlov. To summarize, classical conditioning involves learning to associate an unconditioned stimulus that already brings about a particular response with a new stimulus, so that the new stimulus brings about the same response (McLeod, (2007)). In Pavlov’s experiment with Classical Conditioning he went to prove that a dog could learn another behavior by having a different stimulus to create it. Pavlov was...
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...Operant conditioning YourFirstName YourLastName University title OPERANT CONDITIONING 1. Introduction Operant conditioning is a type of behaviour that is acquired through rewards and punishment of a particular behaviour. It is also known as instrumental conditioning. It creates an association between behaviour and a consequence of that behaviour. Operant conditioning was named after a behavioural psychologist who was known as B. F Skinner, and may sometimes be referred to as Skinnerian conditioning. Skinner having studied both human and animal behaviour for a long time concluded that a person’s internal thoughts and behaviour could not be used to determine ones behaviour. On the other hand, he proposed that people should look at the external observable causes of human characteristics. He coined the term ‘operant’ as the active behaviour of a human being that acts upon the environment to result in particular consequences. Skinner attempted to explain how we acquire the varied types of behaviours that we exhibit each and every day. (Harnad, Stevan R; Catania, Charles A, 1988) The key concepts in operant conditioning are reinforcement and punishment. Reinforcement is further categorised into two: positive reinforces and negative reinforces. Positive reinforces are the favourable outcomes of a behaviour. The response or the behaviour is strengthened by praise or a reward. On the other hand, negative reinforces refer to the withdrawal of an unpleasant outcome...
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...A behaviorist theory, operant conditioning, and a cognitivist theory, Piaget’s theory of stages of cognitive development, have multiple similarities and differences. A behaviorist theory is based on the fundamental idea that behaviors that are reinforced will tend to continue, while behaviors that are punished will eventually end. Piaget’s Stage Theory of Cognitive Development is a description of cognitive development as four distinct stages in children. These stages are sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete, and formal. The term operant conditioning was coined by B. F. Skinner. His approach was to “focus on the external, visible causes of behavior, rather than try to unpack the internal thoughts and motivations” (Skinner, 1958, p. 48). Skinner understood that reinforcements come in two forms such as negative and positive forms. The negative reinforcements typically are characterized by the removal of an “undesired or unpleasant outcome after the desired conduct” (Alexander, 1996, p. 119). Skinner hypothesized that the response is strengthened as something considered negative is removed. On the other hand, the positive reinforcements are favorable outcomes or events that are given to the person after the desired behavior such as in the form of rewards or praises. Skinner suggested that, to reach these goals, the “reinforcement is for the person’s behavior to increase” (Casas, 2002, p. 133). On the other hand, there are positive and negative reinforcement. The two forms of punishment...
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...Burrhus Frederic (B. F.) Skinner was born on March 20th 1904 to a lawyer father and housewife mother. As a young student Skinner’s ambitions were in the field of writing. Psychology wasn’t of interest for Skinner until after his graduation from Hamilton College. At age 24 Skinner enrolled at Harvard University in the Psychology department. It was during his time at Harvard that Skinner first created his operant behavior model. In 1936 Skinner married Yvonne Blue and started his first teaching job at the University of Minnesota. Skinner had two daughters with Yvonne and moved two more times for teaching jobs over the next 10 years. His next move was to Indiana to become Chair of the Psychology Department Indiana University. In 1947 he was invited to teach at Harvard and accepted a position to start teaching in 1948. Skinner remained at Harvard until his death in 1990. During his career B. F. Skinner published close to 200 articles and more than 20 books (Cherry, n.d). He has won numerous awards for his work and was voted the most influential psychologist of the 20th century. Clearly B.F. Skinner was an outstanding individual in the world of psychology, even though it was not his first career choice. Skinner originally went to school to become an author and that was his first love. I suppose the world of psychology is grateful for his initial failure in literature. Unlike most, before his time, in the field of psychology Skinner was a behaviorist first and foremost. It is my...
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...between classical and operant conditioning. Explain their elements and how they differ from one another. Additionally, provide an example for how learning can occur through each mode of conditioning. Explain how Ivan Pavlov and B.F. Skinner contributed to the study of learning and conditioning. Classical and operant conditioning are important concepts to behavior psychology. While both result in learning, the processes are different. The elements of classical condition are neutral stimulus, unconditioned stimulus, conditioned stimulus, unconditioned response, and conditioned response, while the elements of operant conditioning are reinforcement and punishment. Reinforcement following a behavior will cause the behavior to increase, but if behavior is followed by punishment the behavior will decrease. Ivan Pavlov was a Russian physiologist who was interested in behavior. Pavlov theorized what is called classical conditioning. The most prominent figure in the development and study of Operant Conditioning was B. F. Skinner. Skinner theorized what is called operant conditioning. One of the simplest ways to remember the differences between classical and operant conditioning is to focus on whether the behavior is involuntary or voluntary. Classical conditioning involves making an association between an involuntary response and a stimulus, while operant conditioning is about making an association between a voluntary behavior and a consequence. In operant conditioning, the learner is also...
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...Individual Programmatic Assessment Operant Conditioning Individual Programmatic Assessment: Operant Conditioning PSY/390 August 3, 2015 Individual Programmatic Assessment: Operant Conditioning Psychologists and scientists have been studying from the very beginning the concept of learning, and the several different ways that humans and animals can retain, access and store information. Many theories are linked with learning; these theories have their disadvantages, advantages and specific characteristics which try to clarify the ways human minds function when attempting to learn. One of these theories was established by behaviorist psychologist B. F. Skinner. Skinner after experimenting with pigeons and rats was able to identify a series of important fundamental ides of learning. This theory is called Operant Conditioning, which is also recognized as Instrumental Conditioning or even Skinnerian conditioning. The theory of operant conditioning Operant conditioning is a learning method that occurs through the presentation of rewards and punishments as ways to produce the wanted behavior. Skinner explained that the fundamental motivations for a determined behavior did not derivate from an internal source, such as thoughts or feelings, but from an external source, like the preceding circumstances or the posterior consequences to the behavior. Skinner once said that “we are what we have been reinforced for being”, and this affirmation is a perfect explanation of his theory...
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...Operant Conditioning B.F Skinner based his work on the work of Edward Thorndike who developed the law of effect theory (Olson & Hergenhahn, 2013). Through his work Skinner went on to identify fundamental principles of learning, based on experiments with pigeons and rats. From these experiments, Skinner developed an explanation as for how humans learn behaviors or change behaviors, and went on to infer that patterns of reinforcement shape behavior, which is operant conditioning. Comparing and contrasting positive and negative reinforcement in operant conditioning gives an understanding of how both are a necessity in operant conditioning. Both positive and negative reinforcement are a necessity in operant conditioning; one form of reinforcement is more effective than the other. Several reasons exist to why one form of reinforcement is more effective than the other. A given scenario can show how to apply operant conditioning to shape behavior and how the creation of a reinforcement schedule can apply to a certain selected behavior. B. F. Skinner developed the “term” operant conditioning in 1937 (Staddon& Cerutti, 2003). Skinner's theory of operant conditioning explains how organisms acquire learned behaviors that they exhibit. The main focus of operant conditioning is to use reinforcement as a reward or punishment to increase or decrease the likelihood of behavior (Staddon & Cerutti, 2003). Operant conditioning is a means or method of learning, which occurs through...
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...with thinking, feeling, or knowing. It focuses on the objective and observable components of behavior. Behaviorism focus on behaviors that can be observed only. Behaviorism deals with the consequences of behavior and those behaviors can be rewarded or punished. (Huitt, W., & Hummel, J. (2006). An overview of the behavioral perspective. Educational Psychology Interactive. Valdosta, GA: Valdosta State University. ) HISTORY Behaviourism is derived from the belief that free will is an illusion. According to a pure behaviourist, ( John B. Watson (1878-1958)) human beings are shaped entirely by their external environment. Alter a person's environment, and you will alter his or her thoughts, feelings, and behaviour. Provide positive reinforcement whenever someone perform a desired behaviour, and soon they will learn to perform the behaviour on their own. (Ivan Pavlov: 1891) The term behaviorism refers to the school of psychology founded by John B. Watson based on the belief that behaviors can be measured, trained, and changed. Behaviorism was established with the publication of Watson's classic paper "Psychology as the Behaviorist Views It" (1913). The origins of behaviorism grew out of the ideology of the American...
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...___ Behaviorism Perspectives For the purpose of this paper the theories of John B. Watson and his introduction of behaviorism in 1913 and his eventual scandal and departure from the world of psychology will be discussed along with, Burrhus F. Skinner and his introduction of operant conditioning and its continued impact on the world of psychology and finally Edward Tolman and his theories of molar vs. molecular, goal-directedness, intervening variable and cognitive maps will be discussed. Each of these philosophers had their own theories regarding behaviorism and each of them had impacts on the behaviorism that we use in today’s psychology. First we will take a look at each of their individual theories on behaviorism, and then we will compare and contract those theories. In conclusion these theories will be reviewed along with the theory that has lasted the test of time. John B. Watson J. B. Watson introduced his psychological school of behavior theory in 1913. His theory was based on the control and prediction of behaviors. He set out to prove his theory with one of his most famous studies of little Albert B. He theorized that children had three basic emotional reactions, love, fear and rage. His experiment set out to prove that he could instill behaviors in Albert and control those behaviors. He began his experiment by introducing Albert to a white rat, when Albert would reach out to touch the rat he then would make a loud noise behind his head causing him to pull away...
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...Madeline Clausell ABA "The consequences of behavior determine the probability that the behavior will occur again" --B. F. Skinner. B. F. Skinner was born March 20, 1904. B.F. Skinner described his Pennsylvania childhood as "warm and stable." As a boy, he enjoyed building and inventing things; a skill he would later use in his own psychological experiments. Skinner married Yvonne Blue in 1936, and the couple went on to have two daughters, Julie and Deborah. Burrhus Frederic (B.F.) Skinner majored in literature at Hamilton College in New York. He went to New York City in the late 1920s to become a writer, but he wasn't very successful. So he decided to go back to school, and went to Harvard to study psychology, since he had always enjoyed observing animal and human behavior. For the most part, the psychology department there was immersed in introspective psychology, and Skinner found himself more and more a behaviorist. He worked in the lab of an experimental biologist, however, and developed behavioral studies of rats. He had always been a tinkerer, and loved building Rube Goldberg contraptions as a kid; he put that skill to use by designing boxes to automatically reward behavior, such as depressing a lever, pushing a button, and so on. His devices were such an improvement on the existing equipment; they've come to be known as Skinner boxes. Skinner received his PhD in 1931. In 1936 he took an academic position at the University of Minnesota where he wrote The Behavior of Organisms...
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...Operant Conditioning Georgia University of Phoenix PSY/390 April 18th, 2011 Operant Conditioning The operant conditioning is a fundamental theory in psychology and is also known as instrumental conditioning. This theory emphasizes the use of consequences to alter certain occurrences and forms of behavior. Furthermore, learning is the outcome of rewards and punishments used as consequences for specific behaviors. B. F. Skinner is one of the most famous behaviorists who initiated the operant conditioning theory, and until today, most theorists refer to it as the “ Skinnerian Conditioning” to further their studies. Skinner established his theory from Thorndike’s earlier work and demonstrates that the most efficient way to understand behavior is by observing the causes of people’s actions, based on the effect of reinforcement or punishments. This paper will discuss the theory of the operant conditioning by explaining the significant actions that stimulates people’s behavior. Theory of Operant Conditioning Skinner did not consider people inner thoughts or intentions to be responsible for the way their behavior is shaped. Instead, he believed that external factors are most likely to be accountable for the way humans behave in their environment. The reason he uses the term operant, is to refer to certain behaviors that operate within the environment and initiate consequences. According to Skinner,” the emphasis is on behavior and its consequences, and...
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