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Theoretical Concepts Associated with Skinner

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Olsen & Hergenhahn, 2009 list 24 major theoretical concepts associated with Burrhus Frederic Skinner. Among these theoretical concepts, radical behaviorism, shaping, extinction, chaining, punishment, verbal behavior, and his learning theory are paramount. In addition to these theoretical concepts, Skinner’s respondent and operant behavior, type s and type r conditioning, as well as the cumulative recording and contingency contracting cannot be ignored. However, the primary focus of this slide is a succinct review of the 12 fundamentals of Skinner’s behaviorism as notated in Team B annotated bibliography from week 2. In that regard, Delprato & Midgley state, “Behaviorism’s impact on disciplines inside and outside of psychology is exemplified by the prominence of its leading advocate B. F. Skinner” (p. 1507).
The essential points Delprato & Midgley revealed regarding Skinner’s behaviorism are the purpose of science, methodology, determinism, locus of behavioral control, consequential causality, materialism, behavior as subject matter, reductionism, non-reductionism, organism as the locus of biological change, classification of behavior into respondent and operant stimulus control of operant behavior, and the generality of behavioral principles.
According to Delprato & Midgley, 1992 the purpose of science is to predict and control behavior of organism. To that end, experimentation, the use of scientific research, and technological application is vital in accessing the behavior of organisms. Additionally, the use of methodology is relevant in scientific research. (Delprato & Midgley, 1992) described methodology as a form of functionalism that relates environment to behavior. In that respect, methodology and locus of behavioral control are related because locus of behavioral control is directly linked to being localized in the environment. However, determinism is a vital component as well and Delprato & Midgley, 1992) reveal that determinism is lawful. Simply stated, determinism is an effort to reveal order. Delprato & Midgley, 1992 states, “To have a science of psychology at all, we must adopt the fundamental postulate that human behavior is a lawful datum” (p. 1509).
In addition to the essential elements of Skinner’s behaviorism listed above, Delprato & Midgley confirm the relevance of behavior as subject matter and the locus of biological change. To that end, (Delprato& Midgley, 1992) confirm that psychology is a science of mental life which has not been fully developed. However, deeper revelation and observation confirm that Delprato & Midgley believe that a science of the behavior of organisms solidifies that behavior of organisms is a part of biology which is a natural science.
The essentials and theoretical attributes that Skinner left are too numerous to discuss in a 15 minutes presentation, but I would like to conclude this portion of our presentation by elaborating on Skinner’s contingency contracting and Skinner’s box. Olsen & Hergenhahn, 2009 confirms that Skinner box was an experimental test chamber where Skinner implemented varying methods of instrumental conditioning to solidify different aspects of behavior and operant conditioning. Although, most experiments involved rats, the use of Skinner’s box was not limited to rats. In addition to Skinner’s box, Skinner implemented contingency contracting to solidify certain points. According to Olsen & Hergenhahn, 2009 contingency contracting is defined as “Making arrangements, sometimes with another person, so that certain behavior will be reinforced” (p. 447). Therefore, the contract or agreement may be as simple as a parent and child agreeing to work with one another so the child can achieve success in school. The child may study and work hard to achieve academic success and the parent rewards the child for their endeavors and hard work. The number of examples and instances where contingency contracting can be implemented are endless. However, this theoretical concept is still vital in 2012 and proves without a doubt that Skinner’s conglomeration of theoretical concepts are still useful in 2012, while paving the way for modern day psychologist to build on a firm foundation that Skinner established in prior years.

References:
Delprato, D. J., & Midgley, B. D. (1992). Some fundamentals of B. F. Skinner's behaviorism American Psychologist, 47(11), 1507-1520
Olson, M. H., & Hergenhahn, B. R. (2009). An Introduction to Theories of Learning (8th ed.). Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook Collection Database.

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