...Corrales 1 DC 14 June 2012 Instructor Ken Smith PS 1200 | Principles of Psychology | | | | | | | History of B.F Skinner "The consequences of behavior determine the probability That the behavior will occur again"- B.F. Skinner Burrhus Frederick Skinner is one of the most important person's in the history of psychology. He was very popular and well known by seeing humans as no different to animals. He was also well known by his unique and well expressed quotes and by operant conditioning and schedules of reinforcement theories. Burrhus was a young boy that was interested and attracted in observing and spotting the world. To begin with, Skinner was born on March 20, 1904 in small town in the hills of Pennsylvania. At that time his father was prestigious lawyer and his mother was a housewife. Skinner grew up in a peaceful home with a warm and stable family. He had one younger brother that died when he was 16 years old from cerebral aneurism, and he had no sisters. During his childhood, he took pleasure of building and experimenting things, an ability and talent he would shortly use in his own psychological experiments in his career path. As a young boy, he build things like roller scooters and steerable wagons that worked backwards. Corrales 2 At later years, Burrhus decided to attend Hamilton College in New York, where he soon graduated with a BA degree in English. His passion was to become a writer, but later he noticed it wasn't...
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...Skinner Article BEH/225 3/20/2013 David Stephensen (Instructor) Axia College of University of Phoenix B.F Skinner, theorist and psychologist. He was born in 1904 in a small town in Pennsylvania, breakthrough research in the field of psychology. Skinner was a famous controversial behavioral scientist who longed to be a writer as a young man. His main aim was to focus on operant conditioning. Operant Conditioning is a type of learning where behaviors are repeated to earn rewards, or avoid punishment (Morris & Maisto 2010). Operant conditioning is when we use consequences to transform or shape behavior, either to increase or decrease a voluntary behavior. According to J. Dinsmoor, “Skinner suggested that it is punishment that people find objectionable and against which they rebel, rather than simply, the fact that our behavior is under external control. Positive reinforcement leads to voluntary cooperation. Hostile reactions to Skinner's message may reflect confusion of his opposition to autonomous action as a scientific concept with opposition to behavior described as autonomous. Negative reactions toward science, psychology, and the use of "lower" animals to understand human behavior may also have played a role. Properly understood, Skinner was much closer to the libertarian than to the totalitarian end of the political spectrum.” You will notice his many contributions that will be brought to your attention so that he can receive the recognition as one of the most...
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...LEARNING PRINCIPLES Training a Dog Eddie has been reading about methods to train his dog to behave and follow commands. He wanted to make his dog more obedient, so he has been reading a lot and trying to implement what he has read. One of the first things he read about was the use of a clicker and reinforcement theory. He read that he should use the clicker and then follow that sound immediately with a dog treat. Eddie did use the clicker a number of times, but sometimes he would make the “click” and fumble around and not give the dog a treat until a minute or so later. Some days he would give the dog a treat and then use the clicker. Eddie also read about positive reinforcement, and he felt that it was a good idea. He decided that treats were a reinforcer, and he also decided that he would give his dog a new toy as a reinforcer. Along with the concept of positive reinforcement, Eddie read about something called schedules of reinforcement. Eddie thought that the best schedule of reinforcement was to give his dog a treat or new toy every time the dog obeyed a command such as “sit”, but after a while it became too much trouble to always give a treat so Eddie tried to just use the clicker instead. Eddie wasn’t content with trying to teach his dog simple one-word commands such as “sit”, he wanted the dog to learn more complex behaviors such as “roll over and play dead”, so he researched the concept of shaping, but he would often get frustrated because his dog...
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...Compare and contrast how Skinner and Harlow have used non-human animals in behavioural research In this essay I plan to compare and contrast the works of both Harlow and Skinner, in relation to their investigative studies with non-human animals in behavioural research. Both of these psychologists conducted influential research on the behaviour of animals and both concluded that their findings could also be applied to the behaviour of humans. I plan to compare the similarities and differences with Skinner’s study of non-human animals in his research on reinforcement and learning (Toates 2010 page 167) and that of Harlow’s study of non-human animals in his attachment study (Toates 2010 page 1960), as the main focus for my reference. Although it is now widely acknowledged that Harlow’s research methods would now be considered as being unethical. It was the subsequent debates in response to these research methods, that has sanctioned improvements in ethical standers and the findings of the research have also influenced the attitudes and practice of Western childcare and child psychology today. (Custance 2010 page 212). By analysing Harlow’s and Skinner’s research, I will review their theories that relate to learning being based upon the idea, that all behaviours are acquired through conditioning which occurs through interaction with the environment. ‘Stimulus-response psychology’ looks at understanding how learning consists of the attainment of the links between stimuli and responses...
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...The two stages of human growth and development that I researched is by Albert Bandura and B.F Skinner. Bandura has become the most influential theorist of learning and development. He believes that a significant amount of learning is described by social cognitive learning. “Learning would be exceedingly laborious, not to mention hazardous, if people had to rely solely on the effect of their own actions to inform them what to do. Fortunately, most human behavior is learned observationally through modeling: from observing others one forms an idea of how new behaviors are performed, and on later occasions this coded information serves as a guide for action (Bandura 1977).” We don’t have to go through an experience ourselves to learn from it, it is learned primarily through observation and not through trail and area, as it is with operant condition. B.F Skinner theory of operant is a form of how we response to life situation whether positive or negative. As an example of this conditioning, my mother was the dominant one in the household. If my brothers, sisters and I did something wrong, she would physically punish us. Skinner has three types of reinforcement: primary reinforcement- instinctive behaviors lead to satisfaction of basic survival needs such as food, water, sex and shelter. Secondary reinforcement – is not reinforcing by itself, but becomes reinforcing when paired with a primary reinforce. Lastly, generalized reinforcement- stimuli become reinforcing through repeated...
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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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...conditioning can be used to modify an existing behavior, either an undesirable behavior that you would like to eliminate or a desirable behavior that you would like to strengthen. The desirable behavior that I have decided to strengthen is the regularity of which I exercise. I will generate a plausible explanation for why the problem exists, describe one reason why I want to change the behavior, and provide one benefit that the change will bring. To conclude part A of my assignment, I will provide a carefully designed program for strengthening the behavior, making sure to include all relevant conditioning principles incorporated within my plan; which will include the use of positive and negative re-enforcers, and shaping. In part B, I will design a series of test items that would indicate the difference intelligences according to Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences. I will provide one original of how you would test each of the eight differences. Howard Gardner developed a theory of multiple intelligences in (1983, 2004) according to Gardner there are eight different types of intelligence. Each of the eight intelligence is distinct from the others, which means that we may be very talented in some of these areas and completely untalented in others. Skinner showed how positive reinforcement worked by placing a hungry rat in his Skinner box. The box contained a lever in the side and as the rat moved about the box it would accidentally knock the...
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...Assignment 4 Valerie Rountree Walden University Management in Human and Social Development - MGMT 8010 June 28, 2014 Understanding Burrhus Frederic Skinner B. F. Skinner was one of the most influential of American psychologists. A radical behaviorist, he developed the theory of operant conditioning, the idea that behavior is determined by its consequences, be they reinforcements or punishments, which make it more or unlikely that the behavior will be repeated again, (NNDB, 2014). His principles are still incorporated within treatments of phobias, addictive behaviors, and in the enhancement of classroom performance as well as in computer-based self-instruction, (NNDB, 2014). Skinner believed that the only scientific approach to psychology was one that studied behaviors, not internal (subjective) mental processes, (NNDB, 2014). He denied the existence of a mind as a thing separate from the body, but he did not deny the existence of thoughts, which he regarded simply as private behaviors to be analyzed according to the same principle as publicly observed behaviors, (NNDB, 2014). According to Michael (2013) Burrhus Frederic Skinner is very famous for developing his own philosophical studies around animal and human behavior. Once I had realized that this Theorist had caught my attention, I really became very excited about this research project so I started finding information about the man called B.F. Skinner, (NNDB, 2014). I am not sure if you’ve heard...
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...way to understand behavior is to look at the causes of an action and its consequences. He called this approach operant conditioning. The main principles of operant conditioning, as defined by Skinner, are reinforcement, punishment, shaping, extinction, discrimination, and generalization. Reinforcement is the key element in Skinner's theory. A reinforcement is any characteristic in the environment that serves to increase the probability that a person will repeat a behavior in the future. It could be verbal praise, a good grade or a feeling of increased accomplishment or satisfaction (Cook). An example of a positive reinforcement is a child receives their report card and brings it home to mom and dad. The child received four “A’s” and one “B”. For every “A” received the parents reinforce that child with money. In middle school “A’s” are worth twenty dollars each but moving into high school they are worth fifty dollars each. This child will be highly motivated to bring home as many “A’s” as they can! What happens when that reinforcer does not work? That is when the next element in Skinner’s theory comes into play, and that is punishment. Punishment is defined as the opposite of reinforcement since it is designed to weaken or eliminate a response rather than increase it. Like reinforcement, punishment can work either by directly applying an unpleasant stimulus like a shock after a response or by removing a potentially rewarding stimulus (McLeod). For instance, let’s say that child...
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...dignity, self- worth, cultures, societies and the change of one’s roles and behaviors (Walden University 2012). Walden University continues to provide an all-inclusive foundation for all of its programs since 1970 and continues to build on its foundation to create a positive atmosphere for the professionals attending to enhance the lifestyle of the individuals that graduate as scholars. Walden University continues to socially change the insights of their students to increase one’s social awareness to a higher degree and a higher purpose in life. I would like to thank Walden University and the faculty for the intended outcome thus far for the social changes that has been implemented in my life through the studies early on in the course. B. Then, consider an issue or problem in your local community. How do you envision addressing that issue or problem, in light of Walden’s mission and vision of social change? In growing up in the poverty stricken communities of Baltimore City, where the drugs, alcohol, crime and prostitution population continues to be on the rise is devastating to many communities. As a Walden student I would go back to my community and do my, due diligence to help create a productive environment for the individuals through the education and knowledge so freely given to me as a Walden University student. It is imperative that we as students of Walden University or any setting put fourth all the necessary efforts to bring about change to our adults, children...
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...Behaviour management methods based in behaviourism advocate rewarding pupils when they conform to school expectations and punishing them when they do not. The external environment is heavily emphasised in behaviourism, with positive reinforcement provided by teachers to encourage favourable behaviour (Skinner 1985, 293). Rewards such as stickers, extra play time, praise, or being designated teacher's helper are examples of positive rein forcers. Negative reinforcement is similarly used by teachers to discourage inappropriate behaviour (Skinner 1985, 293). Punishments such as withholding recess, writing students' names on the board, or requiring extra work act as negative rein forcers. Most teachers learn behaviourist methods in their pre-service training. For example, many teachers are instructed by their professors to ignore some inappropriate behaviours (Obenchain and Taylor 205, 9). The theoretical reason behind this response is that if the student is not rewarded by teacher attention, he or she will eventually stop the behaviour. This planned ignoring is called the principal of extinction by behavioural theorists. The principal of extinction states that if in a given situation a person exhibits a certain behaviour and that behaviour is not reinforced, the behaviour will lessen when that given situation is again presented (Obenchain and Taylor 205, 9). However, negative reinforcement can also work against good classroom management. For example, teachers are often directed...
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...We as principals think that the most common reasons for kids to skip school are that they simply aren't interested in the class, they just don't want to go, or to do drugs. Some other reasons for skipping could be that they might have a test they didn't study for, had something due and didn't do it, to go eat, sleep or they just dislike the teacher. We are going to take a look at B. F. Skinner's operant conditioning theory and Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs. B.F Skinner was a behavioural theorist. Skinner coined the term operant conditioning; it means roughly changing of behaviour by the use of reinforcement which is given after the desired response. With the operant conditioning in mind he designed The Skinner Box. The Skinner box is a chamber used to study how the use of rewards and punishments can influence behaviour on rats, and pigeons. The Skinner Box is designed to work by rewarding the subject with a food pellet whenever the bar/pedal on the wall was pressed, then causing a mechanism to release a food pellet. Skinner believed that the best way to understand behaviour is to look at the causes of an action and its consequences. Skinner identified three types of responses or operant that can follow behaviour: • Neutral operants: responses from the environment that neither increase nor decrease the probability of a behaviour being repeated. • Reinforcers: Responses from the environment that increase the probability of a behaviour being repeated. Reinforcers...
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...Comparison between Maslow and Skinner Rhonda Gardner Educational Psychology July 1, 2012 Comparison and Contrast between Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory and Burrhus Frederic Skinner Behaviorist Theory B. F. Skinner and Abraham Maslow both are well known in the field of Psychology, but not all psychologist believe in the same theories, perspectives or needs. Here we have two brilliant minds with two different theories when it comes to learning. While neither is wrong, they both have a tremendous impact in the classroom. Take a look at the cart below and compare Skinner’s and Maslow’s theories. Chart: Theories and Needs | Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs | Skinner Behaviorist Theory | How Motivation is Defined | Maslow believed that people have basic instincts according to their needs. This shapes their behavior of the person, when one of the five key needs are deprived or missing there is a change in behavior. | Skinner believed that behavior is shaped by positive and negative reinforcement. Good behavior is rewarded and bad behavior is punished or a least favorable outcome occurs.. | How Motivation changes for elementary vs. secondary students. | Maslow believed that the 5 steps in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs must be meet in order for a student to be successful in the learning process. Once these needs are met the students should proceed forward in small steps to more advanced steps of the subject area and adjusted if needed. In secondary students...
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...to turn away from physically abusing students and began to look for more effective ways of educating the nation’s larval citizenry. It would be unfair to speak of education theories without mentioning Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, as they together were of the first to put forth an effort towards understanding, among many things, how people think and why. Roughly 2000 years later, there were a growing number of educated individuals beginning to take second look at everything we thought we knew about being human. Among these people, there was Ivan Pavlov, who began ringing a bell, and not only did Clarence get his wings, but what was learned through the well-known story of Pavlov and his dogs also served as the impetus for John Watson and B. F. Skinner and their ground-breaking notion of Behaviorism. Behaviorism, simplified, is the theory that a person is the product of their environment, and to change a person’s behavior, one needs to simply adjust their environment. More specifically, the term behaviorism was coined by John Watson which he defined as a “theoretical perspective in which learning and behavior are described and explained in terms of stimulus-response relationships” (Ormrod, 2010). Incidentally, this theory does not counter indicate the use of corporal punishment as a form of stimulus. The...
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...CHAPTER 1 The Problem and its Background Introduction If you could improve performance, increase student morale an develop self esteem of a student, would you? According to B.F Skinner, behavior is a function of its consequences. The learner will repeat the desired behavior if positive reinforcement follows the behavior. Skinner said, “When someone behaves in a way we find reinforcing, we make him more likely to do so again by praising or commending him. We attest to the value of the person’s behavior by patting on the back, or saying good or right or giving him a token of our esteem such as prize, honor or award.” Guthrie assume that learning depends on action an organism must do, it is to learn. Once the student performed the required response, the teacher must present the student a reward, which will capture his or her attention that the student will eventually further improve his or her performance. For example, when students do exceptionally ell in class, he or she will earn medal or a star. Another, the student will be more motivated if his or her teacher will say “good job” or “very great answer” for every correct answer and good performance. The researcher believes that rewards have something to do with learning and we assume that motivation is important to the learner. A reward must be something desirable; without the desire, there can be no reward (Tria, 1998) Since the researchers have mentioned the concept of positive reinforcement issue...
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