...Classroom Management Theorists and Theories/Burrhus Frederic Skinner < Classroom Management Theorists and Theories Contents 1 Overview of Skinner's Theories of Classroom Management 2 Implementation of Skinner's Theories 3 Critique of Skinner's Theories 4 Questions for Consideration 5 References Overview of Skinner's Theories of Classroom Management[edit] The Theory Skinner believed that the goal of psychology should be practical (Lieberman, 2000). As it relates to education, Skinner believed the goal of psychology should be to find ways to make education enjoyable and effective for all students. His learning theory relied on the assumption that the best way to modify behavior was to modify the environment. Skinner was a proponent for many instructional strategies that modern day “progressive” educational reformers advocate for: scaffold instruction, small units, repetition and review of instructions, and immediate feedback. Skinner did not approve of the use of punishments in school, or as a behavioral modification technique in general, and based these opinions on his own empirical research that found punishments to be ineffective (Lieberman, 2000). Skinner himself advocated for the frequent use of reinforcement (i.e. rewards) to modify and influence student behavior. Skinner’s primary contribution to behavioral management philosophy has been from his research on operant conditioning and reinforcement schedules. An operant is a behavior that acts on the surrounding...
Words: 3051 - Pages: 13
...our development. There are five major theories that emphasize the development of mankind. These theories are the psychoanalytic theories of Freud and Erikson; the behaviorist theories of Pavlov and Skinner and the social learning theory of bandura; Piaget’s cognitive theory; Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory; and Bronfenbrenner’s biological context theory. Even though all of these theories are different and distinct from each other, they all provide a handout to the topic of development. When we look at development there are many theorist that stand by the discontinuous change, which means that our development occurs in distinct steps or stages. The men that fall under this category is Freud, Erikson, and Piaget. Freud’s psychosexual theory focuses on five different stages, in which pleasure, or gratification is focused on a particular biological function and body part. In Erickson’s psychosocial theory, he explains how society and culture both challenge and shapes us. He also breaks down development in age groups to create the different stages there is to follow when we rely and interact with society. The last stage theorist is Piaget, which brings the idea of the cognitive development. He suggests that human thinking is arranged into schemes, organized mental patterns that represent behavior actions. So these are stage theories that are represented in steps or stages and are an important contribution to development according to these theorist. Aside from discontinuous change...
Words: 550 - Pages: 3
...Theorists such as B. F. Skinner believe that people are essentially reactive and are shaped by their environment. Whereas theorists such as Albert Bandura believe individuals have a certain degree of power over their own lives. Bandura seems more open minded than Skinner and for that reason I lean more towards Bandura’s approach, although I don’t think one can exist without the other. I agree with Skinner there are many things beyond our control and we are forced to react to them but I’d also like to believe we have control over how we react. That’s where Bandura comes in when he says we have a certain degree of power. “...people construct and are constructed by social systems. Both producers and products of their environment, people have...capacities...
Words: 924 - Pages: 4
...They are impacted by the way we interact with others. If we tend to stay away from people, then our relationships suffer or we may have none. The whole idea here is to see how the learning theories help us figure out what kind of personality we have and the ability to connect with others. Individual personalities are affected by learning theories and many other factors. It was explained by Skinner that psychology must avoid internal mental factors and confine itself to observable physical events (Feist, & Feist, 2009). Theories are invested and developed through the outside world and our environment. We take in information through observing the things in the world around us. People tend to pick these behaviors up from parents, family members, friends, caregivers and media outlets. These behaviors shape the human mind and alter the individual’s personality. As children we learn a lot by observing our parents and adults closest to us. One of the many examples of this is modeling where a child observes their parent and copies the behaviors they exhibit. In Theories of personality, “Skinner believed that science has three main characteristics: first, science is cumulative; second, it is an attitude that values empirical observation; and third, science is a search for order and lawful relationships.” (Feist, & Feist, 2009). With in...
Words: 889 - Pages: 4
...The Behavior Analyst 1995, 18, 173-185 No. 1 (Spring) Encore "Reinforcement" in Behavior Theory William N. Schoenfeld Queens College, City University of New York, and Cornell University Medical College In its Pavlovian context, "reinforcement" was actually a descriptive term for the functional relation between an unconditional and a conditional stimulus. When it was adopted into operant conditioning, "reinforcement" became the central concept and the key operation, but with new qualifications, new referents, and new expectations. Some behavior theorists believed that "reinforcers" comprise a special and limited class of stimuli or events, and they speculated about what the essential "nature of reinforcement" might be. It is now known that any stimulus can serve a reinforcing function, with due recognition of such parameters as subject species characteristics, stimulus intensity, sensory modality, and schedule of application. This paper comments on these developments from the standpoint of reflex behavior theory. From its modest beginnings in behavior science, the term "reinforcement" has come to play a central role in modern behavior theory. Like so many others in psychology, the verb "to reinforce," and its cognate nouns and adjectives, were an importation from common usage in which they had seen broad service: reinforced concrete; reinforcing a conclusion; reinforcing a fence; and so on. In acquiring their new dignity in science, they have also acquired some status...
Words: 8155 - Pages: 33
...are and who the key theorists are for those key theories for psychology. Psychology is: “Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behavior. Psychology is a multifaceted discipline and includes many sub-fields of study such areas as human development, sports, health, clinical, social behavior and cognitive processes”. (Simple Psychology) There are many different theories that are done within the psychology subject and this report will cover them including personality theories. Behaviorism: Behaviourism approach, this approach has assumptions of that we’re all born a “tabula Rosa”- a blank state, it also says that we learn through 2 types of “conditioning”...
Words: 1237 - Pages: 5
...theory of | A. Social Learning Theory | | B. classical conditioning | | C. operant conditioning | | D. Cognitive Psychology | | | | 2) Philosophers who believe that truth can emerge from the careful use of reason are known as | A. Rationalists | | B. Nativists | | C. Dualists | | D. Empiricists | | | | 3) The most commonly used statistic in Psychology is | A. mean | | B. criteria | | C. mode | | D. range | | | | 4) In a topographical representation of the motor cortex, the homunculus is the largest area devoted to | A. the face | | B. the hands | | C. arms and legs | | D. the tongue | | | | 5) What theorist presents a hierarchy of needs and motivations? | A. Carl Jung | | B. Sigmund Freud | | C. Abraham Maslow | | D. B.F. Skinner | | | | 6) Consider the biological theories of aging. Which of the following best represent components of that theory? | A. Attachment Theory | | B. The Nun Theory | | C. Cellular Dial Theory | | D. Hormonal Stress Theory | | | | 7) In operant conditioning, which of the following is accurate? | A. Any response that is followed by reward tends to become extinct. | | B. Any response that is followed by punishment is likely to not be repeated. | | C. Any response that is followed by a reinforcing stimulus tends to be repeated. | | D. Any response that is preceded by a reinforcing stimulus tends to be repeated. | | | | 8) The child...
Words: 1615 - Pages: 7
...Personality: Theories Chapter: Personality Theories 429 Personality: Theories What Is "Personality"? Psychologists' Usage of Personality Elements of Personality Techniques of Study Theories of Personality Trait Theories Psychoanalytic Theory Central elements of Psychoanalysis Psychoanalytic Personality Structure Instincts in Psychoanalysis Other Psychodynamic Theorists (Social-) Learning Theories Dollard/Miller's Stimulus-Response Theory B. F. Skinner and Personality as Behavior Bandura and Social Learning Self-Growth Theories Carl Rogers and Person-Centered Theory Maslow's Holistic Theory A Modern Theory of Personality: Big Five USING PSYCHOLOGY: What Determines Your Personality -Heredity? Environment? USING PSYCHOLOGY: What Determines Your Personality -Heredity and Environment REVIEW ACTIVITIES INTERESTED IN MORE? Personality: Theories WHAT'S THE ANSWER? "I'm really jealous of my sister. Here I am about to graduate, and I only made it into the Student Association this year. Sis's a freshman -- a frosh -- and she's already been elected." "Wilma, I know what you mean. My older brother was the same way. You know what your sister and my brother have in common? They've both got a lot of personality. Your sister kind of just radiates charm -- even for a first-year student! And Kirk's the same way: Everywhere he goes, people smile with him. He gushes at the right time, gets serious when he needs to, and always has a good word for everybody. He's just got a PSYCHOLOGY: ...
Words: 10917 - Pages: 44
...Sociocultural E, H, N__Humanistic Theory A. Individualism versus collectivism B. Popular theorist Eysenck initiated the five-factor model. C. The healthy personality is found in balancing the social self with the individual self. D. Genetics determine the traits for a healthy personality, but how those traits are expressed are influenced by learning experiences, development of skills, and the ability to choose our own actions. E. Popular theorists include Maslow and Rogers. F. Popular theorists include Freud, Jung, and Erikson. G. Social and cultural factors such as ethnicity, gender, culture, discrimination, and socioeconomic status influence one’s sense of self and his or her adjustment to society. H. Taken from the European philosophy of Existentialism I. Focus on the individuals’ capacity to build knowledge and adapt to the environments around them. Includes behaviorism and social-cognitive theory. J. Personality is characterized by a struggle between different elements within an individual’s personality. Behavior, thoughts, and emotions are the result of this inner struggle. K. Consists of five major personality factors which are reasonably stable elements of personality. These factors include extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness to experience. L. Popular theorists include Pavlov and Skinner. M. Idea of the healthy personality is the ability to love and work. N. A healthy personality...
Words: 259 - Pages: 2
...Answer 1: The five personality theorists who according to me have made significant contributions to providing insight into dynamics of human behavior are 1. Sigmund Freud- Psychoanalytic theory 2. Carl Gustav Jung- Analytic Psychology 3. Alfred Adler- Individual Psychology 4. William James- The Psychology of Consciousness 5. B.F Skinner- Radical Behaviorism Rationale for the above choices: Sigmund Freud- Psychoanalytic theory: Freud explanation about the Structure of Personality and the psychosexual stages of development are a breakthrough in the history of Psychoanalysis. His contribution led to further Research in this field and many other personality theorists based his study and continued his theory. Even though what Carl Jung has proposed may sound contradictory to what Freud has proposed, each theory has its own significance and clearly explains various aspects of psychology. * Structure of Personality: * Id: Original core out of which the rest of the personality emerges. Stands for untamed passions. * Ego: Stands for reason and good sense * Super Ego: Is like a secret police department, unerringly detecting any trends of forbidden impulses, particularly of an aggressive kind, and punishing the individual inexorably if any are present. * Freud’s theory also clearly explains the concepts like Anxiety, Anna Freud and the Defense Mechanisms, Repression, Denial, Rationalization, Reaction formation, Projection, Isolation...
Words: 3867 - Pages: 16
...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 pairing with primary or secondary reinforcement (Skinner 1904-1990). Freud’s...
Words: 552 - Pages: 3
...us to experience change, without them learning would be difficult. There are three major theories that help contribute to the learning process, classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and neobehaviorism. Although they share some similarities, they are different when it comes to performance. Classical conditioning is learning that comes from experience, operant conditioning is behavior that has been reinforce through some type of punishment, and neobehaviorism is a phenomena that cannot be measured and observed directly. But these three theories have theorist who have found ways to demonstrate them in their studies. classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and neobehaviorism are theories that help shape our learn process through performance. II Body Paragraph # 1: classical conditioning Topic Sentence 1: Classical conditioning is a form of learning in which an organism comes to associate certain events. It was revealed by Ivan Petrovich Pavlov a psychologist from Russia. Pavlov had a passion for physiology; it stuck with him throughout his life. He also developed surgical procedures for measuring salivary in dogs. Pavlov's research led him to create a science of conditioned reflexes. Through this study it had led to five basic principles which are; the unconditioned stimulus, the unconditioned response, the conditioned stimulus, and the conditioned response. There are several major principles that help make up this condition. Supporting Evidence A: * “Extinction...
Words: 1587 - Pages: 7
...developmental theories offer different ways of thinking about human, growth, development, and learning. Many researchers use theories as a guide them in their observation and to generate new information, the theories are the platform for all research (Mossler, R.A. 2011). Theorists have researched and tested many theories on child development that have been discovered. This paper will show how three developmental theories gave insight on the similarities and differences of the developmental theories of child development. While there are many theoretical perspectives that try to explain the development of children; the theories provide an overall understanding as well as allows educated hypotheses about the different aspects of child development. Behavioral theories within child development allows the focus to be placed on how environmental interactions influences behavior, and in turn how these behaviors are reinforced and learned. Behaviorism accepts that learning happens through interactions that children have with their environment. The theory points out the study of measureable, observable behavior and it also, includes the way the environment controls a child’s behavior. Theorist John B, Watson and B.F. Skinner, theories are based off their belief that, internal thoughts and motivation cannot be used to explain behavior. They believed that only external observable causes human behavior. They feel that through observation behaviors development should be considered a...
Words: 1357 - Pages: 6
...inherited or hereditary. Some raised the idea that it is environment that shapes one’s personality. Both are correct, many studies have shown that both heredity and environment are responsible in shaping an individual’s personality. Heredity is one of the major factors in the development of our personality. Hereditary factors were passed by our parents and ancestors to us. The individual’s talent and some other traits are just few examples of these traits. The environment is another factor in personality development. These include the place we live and the people around us. Our experiences in our day to day life, as well as the people whom we associated with such as our family, friends, people in the school, in the church and the community as a whole, all influences our personality. Behavioral and Social Cognitive Theories suggest that personality is a result of interaction between the individual and the environment. Behavioral theorists include B. F. Skinner and Albert Bandura. Biological and Evolutionary Approaches to Personality suggests that important components of personality are inherited. Research on heritability suggests that there is a link between genetics and personality traits. One of the best known biological theorists was Hans Eysenck, who linked aspects of personality to biological processes. For example, Eysenck argued that introverts had high cortical arousal, leading them to avoid stimulation. On the other hand, Eysenck believed extroverts had low cortical arousal...
Words: 303 - Pages: 2
...Over the last ten years, the issue of the need for an education reform has remained a regular debate in the social and political world. Despite the nearly unanimous decision that an educational reform would benefit the nation’s education system, little to no steps have been taken in achieving the said goal. In his article, “Facilitating Educational Restructuring,” Mark Hawkes addresses the education system’s major issues – according to varying educational theorists, such as B. F. Skinner and Jean Piaget – that result in the lack of positive results and engagement in today’s classrooms. Skinner’s issue with modern day education is rooted in the “artificial” relevancy of classroom information and student’s failure to acknowledge the social and...
Words: 386 - Pages: 2
