BehaviorismBehaviorism

B. F. SkinnerB. F. Skinner

PriyapatrickPriyapatrick

B.F. B.F. Skinner Skinner (1904-(1904-1990)1990)

B. F. Skinner(1904-1990)

Skinner’s life and his understanding of life Predetermined, lawful, and orderly

A product of past reinforcements 1925: Hamilton College (NY): degree in English, no courses in psychology Read about Pavlov’s and Watson’s experimental work 1931: Ph.D. from Harvard

B. F. Skinner

Dissertation: a reflex is a correlation between S and R

1938: The Behavior of Organisms 1953: Science and Human Behavior 1990: Vigorously attacked the growth of cognitive

psychology 1990 (final article): "Can Psychology Be a Science

of Mind?"

B. F. Skinner

Dealt only with observable behavior The task of scientific inquiry:

To establish functional relationships between experimenter-controlled stimulus and organism’s response No presumptions about internal entities - The "empty organism" approach

B. F. Skinner

Single subject design • Large numbers of subjects not necessary • Statistical comparisons of group means not necessary • A single subject provides valid and replicable results • Requires "sufficient" data collected under well-controlled experimental conditions • Statistics obscure individual responses and

differences

PavlovPavlov ’’s dogs dog

Classical conditioning Watson, Pavlov - Respondent behavior: elicited by specific observable stimulus

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhqumfpxuzI

Skinner’s Rat

B. F. Skinner

Operant behavior: occurs without an observable external stimulus Operates on the organism’s environment The behavior is instrumental in securing a stimulus more representative of everyday learning

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cl7jr9EVcjI&NR=1

B. F. Skinner

Science of behavior: Study of conditioning and extinction of operants

Dependent variable in the "Skinner box": rate of response

Law of acquisition key variable: reinforcement practice provides opportunities for

additional reinforcement

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_ctJqjlrHA&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYq5StqD744&feature=related

Pigeon Guided MissilePigeon Guided Missile The US Navy required a weapon effective against the German The US Navy required a weapon effective against the German

battleships. battleships.

The size of the primitive guidance systems available rendered The size of the primitive guidance systems available rendered any weapon ineffective.any weapon ineffective.

Pigeon was potentially an extremely simple and effective Pigeon was potentially an extremely simple and effective solutionsolution

The project centered around dividing the nose cone of a missile The project centered around dividing the nose cone of a missile into three compartments, and encasing a pigeon in each. into three compartments, and encasing a pigeon in each.

The compartments for each had a video image of what was in The compartments for each had a video image of what was in front of them, and the pigeons would peck toward the object, front of them, and the pigeons would peck toward the object, thereby directing the missile. thereby directing the missile.

Skinner:"our problem was no one would take us seriously.Skinner:"our problem was no one would take us seriously.““ Few Few people would trust a pigeon to guide a missile no matter how people would trust a pigeon to guide a missile no matter how reliable it proved.reliable it proved.

SkinnerSkinner ’’s Theorys Theory

““All we need to know in order to All we need to know in order to describe and explain behavior is this: describe and explain behavior is this: actions followed by good outcomes actions followed by good outcomes are likely to recur , and actions are likely to recur , and actions followed by bad outcomes are less followed by bad outcomes are less likely to recur.likely to recur.”” (Skinner, 1953) (Skinner, 1953)

Central Human Motive Central Human Motive in Skinnerin Skinner ’’s Theorys Theory

Environmental consequences Environmental consequences shape behaviorshape behavior

LAW OF EFFECTLAW OF EFFECT

BehaviorBehavior Better stateBetter state Increased Increased of affairsof affairs probability of probability of

behavior occurring behavior occurring again again

BehaviorBehavior Worse stateWorse state Decreased Decreased of affairsof affairs probability of probability of

behavior occurring behavior occurring again again

Behavior ABehavior A Behavior BBehavior BBehavior CBehavior C Better state Better state Behavior CBehavior CBehavior DBehavior D of affairs of affairs emerges as theemerges as the Behavior EBehavior E most probablemost probable

OPERANT CONDITIONING TECHNIQUESOPERANT CONDITIONING TECHNIQUES

POSITIVE REINFORCEMENTPOSITIVE REINFORCEMENT = increasing a = increasing a behavior by administering a rewardbehavior by administering a reward

NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENTNEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT = increasing = increasing a behavior by removing an aversive stimulus a behavior by removing an aversive stimulus when a behavior occurswhen a behavior occurs

PUNISHMENTPUNISHMENT = decreasing a behavior by = decreasing a behavior by administering an aversive stimulus following a administering an aversive stimulus following a behavior OR by removing a positive stimulusbehavior OR by removing a positive stimulus

EXTINCTIONEXTINCTION = decreasing a behavior by not = decreasing a behavior by not rewarding itrewarding it

B. F. Skinner

Research foci Role of punishment in response acquisition Schedules of reinforcement Extinction of operants Secondary reinforcement Generalization Subjects included humans as well as animals

B. F. Skinner

Schedules of reinforcement Reinforcement is necessary in operant behavior Reinforcement schedules continuous fixed and variable ratio and interval

SCHEDULES OF SCHEDULES OF REINFORCEMENTREINFORCEMENT

Interval schedulesInterval schedules : reinforcement occurs after a : reinforcement occurs after a certain amount of time has passedcertain amount of time has passed

Fixed IntervalFixed Interval = reinforcement is presented after a = reinforcement is presented after a fixed amount of timefixed amount of time

Variable IntervalVariable Interval = reinforcement is delivered on a = reinforcement is delivered on a random/variable time schedulerandom/variable time schedule

Ratio schedulesRatio schedules : reinforcement occurs after a : reinforcement occurs after a certain number of responsescertain number of responses

Fixed RatioFixed Ratio = reinforcement presented after a fixed # = reinforcement presented after a fixed # of responsesof responses

Variable RatioVariable Ratio = reinforcement delivery is variable but = reinforcement delivery is variable but based on an overall average # of responsesbased on an overall average # of responses

LIMITED EFFECTS OF PUNISHMENTLIMITED EFFECTS OF PUNISHMENT

Punishment does not teach appropriate Punishment does not teach appropriate behaviorsbehaviors

Must be delivered immediately & consistentlyMust be delivered immediately & consistently May result in negative side effectsMay result in negative side effects Undesirable behaviors may be learned Undesirable behaviors may be learned

through modeling (aggression)through modeling (aggression) May create negative emotions (anxiety & May create negative emotions (anxiety &

fear)fear)

B. F. Skinner

Criticisms of Skinner’s behaviorism

His extreme positivism His opposition to theory His willingness to extrapolate beyond the data The narrow range of behavior studied Problem of instinctive drift His position on verbal behavior

B. F. Skinner

Contributions of Skinner’s behaviorism

Shaped American psychology for 30 years His goal: the improvement of society Stength and ramifications of his radical behaviorism

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mm5FGrQEyBY