Download Behaviorism: Pavlov and Skinner

Operant Conditioning:
B.F. Skinner
By Jesse Mason
and Claire Watton
Behaviorism
John B. Watson
 Psychology can only be accurately
studied through
the examination and analysis of
observable behavior
 Re: Psychology as a Science
 Basis for Skinner’s Theory

B.F. Skinner
1904-1990
B.F. Skinner Biography







Burrhus Frederic Skinner - born on March 20th 1904 in
Susquehanna; a small town in Pennsylvania
Rough childhood
Goal to become a writer - started writing poetry and short
stories
Wrote for a school paper at Hamilton College, NY where he
received a BA in English
Attracted by the work Ivan Pavlov on conditions, reflexes,
and behaviorism
Masters in Psychology and doctorate at Harvard University
in 1931.
Moved to Minneapolis - wife Yvonne Blue, had two
daughters together.
Theories of B.F. Skinner




Repeat acts that lead to favorable responses, suppress acts
that lead to unfavorable outcomes
Only effective way to solve individual and social problems
is to manipulate the environment to encourage the desirable
behavior
Operant Conditioning:
 form of learning in which freely emitted acts become
either more or less probable depending on the
consequences they produce
Demonstrates this with his invention of the “Skinner Box”
Skinner’s Theories




Reinforcer: any consequence of an act that
increases the probability that the act will reoccur
Positive reinforcer: any stimulus whose presence
increases the probability that the act will reoccur
Negative reinforcer: any stimulus whose
termination increases the probability that the act
will reoccur
Punisher: any consequence of an act that
suppresses the response and decreases the
probability of it reoccurring
Skinner’s Box
Skinner’s Assumptions

Skinner followed two assumptions:

1. Assumption of Universal Determinism

2. Assumption of Environmentalism
In Relation to Sara Porter’s Case and
General Classroom Application
 Provide
positive reinforcements for paying
attention during class, and arriving on
time.