Behaviorism is a foundational theory in the world of psychology. However, behaviorism though it was a flourishing influential idea during the beginnings of psychology, it suffered a decline when other aspects of scientific research entered the psychology practice. Behaviorism was the scientific study of behavior. A plethora of great thinkers have made their marks with discoveries in behaviorism but B.F. Skinner was one of the most influential thinkers during the decline of behaviorism and the rise of experimental psychology.
B.F. Skinner was born of a father who was a lawyer who worked for the local railroad and a stay at home mother in Susquehanna, Pennsylvania. Skinner’s parents were Presbyterians and were of the middle working class background. Skinner went to the local school in town where both of his parents attended as children themselves. Skinner read for pleasure as a student because he described his father as “a sucker for book salesman.” Many have spoken with Skinner about his childhood, which he describes as “a happy one.” Skinner labeled his upbringing and home life as “warm and stable.” During Skinner’s youth, he also showed a high interest in building things. He built wagons, model airplanes, and other makeshift items, which exemplified his mechanical intellect.
Skinner exceled and enjoyed the school. He finished second in his high school class and was accepted to Hamilton College, a small liberal arts school in New York. Skinner had an intense passion for writing and wanted to become a writer. When Skinner was in college he met the famous poet Robert Frost. Frost asked Skinner to send him some of his work and Frost was very impressed with Skinner’s writing.
With the praise from Robert Frost, Ski...
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...d scientists should study cognitions because he was against the idea of cognition but he viewed them as a valid subject for research.
Skinner believed that all behavior is determined and operant behavior is the idea that operant behavior is the idea that we expect something because we preformed a certain behavior. Skinner also believed that operant conditioning’s purpose was to bring a change positive or or negative to any behavior.
Many psychologists performed many experiments that involved shaping and changing behavior. There is one influential thinker that made a remarkable discovery that one can change another’s behavior by providing or establishing a reward based systems based upon their behavior. B.F. Skinner uncovered the idea that one change or shape another’s behavior by establishing a system based upon rewards that can change another’s behavior.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that behaviorism was a flourishing influential idea during the beginnings of psychology, but it declined when other aspects of scientific research entered the psychology practice. skinner was one of the most influential thinkers.
- Explains that b.f. skinner was born of a lawyer and stay-at-home mother in susquehanna, pennsylvania.
- Narrates how skinner excelled and enjoyed hamilton college, a small liberal arts school in new york, where he met the famous poet robert frost.
- Narrates how skinner enjoyed writing short stories but found no positive results. his father supported him in getting a job in which he wrote the digest of the decisions and grievance brought on by coal companies and unions.
- Describes how skinner decided to change his professional life after two years of success as a writer. after leaving his passion for writing behind, he applied to harvard and studied psychology.
- Explains that skinner preformed most of his research at harvard and established himself as a firm behaviorist after reading bertrand russell’s book philosophy. the psychology department chair was against behaviorism and the ideas of john watson.
- Explains that skinner was at a disadvantage because the department of psychology was against behaviorism. crozier focused on research that was about physiology over psychology.
- Analyzes how skinner labeled his ideas of human behavior as radical behaviorism. he argued that psychology should be the study of all behavior.
- Explains skinner's belief that all behavior is determined, and operant behavior, is the idea that we expect something because we preformed a certain behavior.
- Explains that b.f. skinner uncovered the idea that one can change another’s behavior by establishing a reward based system.
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- Behaviorism Essayanalytical essayBehaviorism is a branch of psychology that has a theoretical approach that gives emphasis to the study of behavior in place of the subject of the mind or the physiological correlates of one's behavior. Behavior is the externally visible response to a stimulus of an animal or human (Weidman). B.F. Skinner is one of the most prominent psychologists of the study of behaviorism. Skinner was on the advance of behaviorism. B.F. Skinner created a group of theories that set out to prove that subjective impetus is not what behavior in humans and animals is so much based on but that behavior is more based on possible reward received and chastisement applied to the animal or human (Newsmakers). Skinner entered into the branch of behaviorism in the 1920s. Behaviorism was still a fairly new branch to psychology at this time. However, Skinner's experiments in his libratory were broadly consideration to be electrifying and ground-breaking, illuminating an knowledge of human behavior and logistics (Newsmakers). Skinner called such behavior based on possible reward received and chastisement that was followed by the repetition of that behavior operant.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that b.f. skinner, one of the most prominent psychologists of behaviorism, created a group of theories that set out to prove that subjective impetus is not what behavior in humans and animals is so much based on.
- Analyzes how skinner clarified the principles that lay groundwork to his psychology.
- Describes b.f. skinner's operant conditioning apparatus, which is a soundproofed enclosed space fashioned with push button and levers.
- Explains that b.f. skinner's views that humans are controlled only by outside factors in the atmosphere and his dismissal of human individuals as self-sufficient made him scandalous amongst his colleagues.
- Explains that the b.f. skinner foundation was established in may of 1988. the foundation supports the science and new works that are a result of his work.
756 wordsRead More - Behaviorism Essayexplanatory essayBehaviorism is defined as a school of psychology that takes the objective evidence of behavior (as measured responses to stimuli) as the only concern of its research and the only basis of its theory without reference to conscious experience (Merriam-Webster). B.F skinner, Ivan Pavlov and John B. Watson are known as the fathers’ of behaviorism. They all had a different prospective on what makes someone learn, the one thing they had in common is reinforcement methods. Their experiments did have enough true findings to spark others to want to explore how behaviorism affects learning. Behaviorists often look at learning as a characteristic of conditioning and will promote a system of prizes and targets in education.
In this essay, the author
- Defines behaviorism as a school of psychology that takes objective evidence of behavior as the only concern of its research. b.f. skinner, ivan pavlov, and john b watson are the fathers’
- Explains skinner's concept of operant conditioning, wherein behavior that is reinforced tends to be repeated and the ones not reinforced fade away. teachers now focus on positive reinforcement rather than punishment.
- Explains pavlov's famous experiment with the dogs that proved the theory of classical conditioning works as well.
- Explains that behaviorism is directly related to learning as many different theories which in one way or the other true. the pavlov theory would be true if the human mind was not made with such complexity.
- Explains that john b. watson's experiments focused on external behavior rather than mental status or internal factors. he believed that even with environmental or social factors, behaviors can still be molded.
- Explains that constructivism believes that a learner's ability to learn relies on what he already knows and understands, and that the gaining of knowledge should be an individually designed process.
658 wordsRead More - B.f. Skinnerexplanatory essayPsychologist, born in Susquhanna, Pa. He studied at Harvard, teaching there (1931-6, 1947-74). A leading behaviorist, he is a proponent of operant conditioning, and the inventor of the Skinner box for facilitating experimental observations.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that b.f. skinner is a leading behaviorist and proponent of operant conditioning.
- Explains that the operant is the behavior just prior to the reinforcer, which is a treat.
- Explains that the return of the reinforcer takes place in the context of a reinforcement history that goes all the way back to the very first time the dog was reinforced.
- Explains that continuous reinforcement is the original scenario. skinner discovered that there is a fixed ratio between behaviors and reinforcers.
- Explains that skinner also looked at variable schedules. variable ratio means you change the "x" each time it takes 3 tricks to get a treat, then 10, then 1, then 7 and so on.
- Explains that the variable interval schedule keeps the dog on their little toes. it makes sense, if you think about it.
- Explains skinner's method of successive approximations, which involves reinforcing a behavior only vaguely similar to the one desired, and looking out for variations that come closer to what you want.
- Narrates how their mother used shaping on their brother, who was afraid of the dark, so he kept his bedroom door cracked open with the hall light shining through.
- Explains the method of systematic desensitization, invented by joseph wolpe, wherein a person with an anxiety would be asked to come up with ten scenarios involving spiders and panic of one degree or another.
- Explains that shaping accounts for the most complex of behaviors, such as being rewarded with prestige and a hefty paycheck.
- Explains that aversive stimulus is the opposite of reinforcing stimulus, something we might find unpleasant or painful.
- Analyzes how aversive stimulus and punishment are defined. swatting your kid for doing x, it'll do less of it, and spanking johnny for throwing his toys will throw less and less.
- Explains that removing an already active aversive stimulus after johnny performs certain behavior is doing negative reinforcement. turning off the electricity when the rat stands on his hind legs, he’ll do more standing.
- Explains how difficult it can be to distinguish some forms of negative reinforcement from positive reinforcement.
- Opines that skinner doesn't approve of aversive stimuli, not because of ethics, but because they don’t work well.
1407 wordsRead More - Compare Classical Conditioning And Operant Conditioningexplanatory essaySkinner came up with operant conditioning. Operant conditioning is when consequences are used to determine whether a certain behavior will be repeated again. In operant conditioning there is positive and negative punishment and positive and negative reinforcement. Positive punishment and positive reinforcement can both be used to increase the likelihood of good behavior, and positive and negative punishment can be used to decrease the likelihood of behavior. Positive reinforcement is when something good is given to enforce the good behavior, and negative reinforcement is when something good is to make sure that the bad behavior doesn’t happen again. Positive punishment is when something bad is given to make sure that the behavior is less likely to happen, and negative punishment is when something bad is taken away to make sure that the desired behavior happens again. Skinner tested this by putting a mouse inside a box and punishing it when it did something that it was not supposed to do and rewarding it when it did something that it was supposed to
In this essay, the author
- Explains that learning is the attainment of new information or knowledge, skills, or responses from experience that causes a fairly permanent change in behavior.
- Describes how john b. watson came up with classical conditioning, where two different stimuli are paired together to create a desired response.
- Explains that b.f. skinner came up with operant conditioning, which is when consequences are used to determine whether a certain behavior will be repeated again.
- Explains that operant conditioning can also be scheduled. there are fixed-ratio and variable-interval schedules.
- Explains classical conditioning, where a teacher gives candy to students when they answer correctly, and operant conditioning when parents take away their kids phone because they got bad grades in school.
- Explains how albert bandura let children observe an adult that was aggressive towards a bobo doll. they then played with the toys and recreated the behavior that they observed in the adult model.
- Explains that operant conditioning has been used by most marine trainers, but it hasn't been widely studied by researchers. "jump masters" unknowingly trained dolphins to jump higher and to do different tricks by offering them fish.
- Describes how a study was performed to see if female wombats could be classically conditioned to collect urine samples.
- Describes how a study conducted with macaque monkeys tested observational learning under highly experimental constraints.
1331 wordsRead More - Skinner Psychology In Psychologyexplanatory essayB.F. Skinner was born in Susquehanna, Pennsylvania on March 20th, 1904. He had described his child hood as “warm and stable.” His younger brother had died at an early age of a cerebral hemorrhage. Skinner as a child had a significant fear of hell which eventually led him to turn towards atheism. His fear did not indicate that he was at all mentally un- stable. One of his most fond childhood activities was inventing things. A skill that became useful in his later psychological experiments. He was extremely fond of the outdoors and of attending school. His Father was a lawyer and his mother was a very intelligent woman who spent her days as a homemaker. Skinner had an enjoyable childhood.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that failure is not always a mistake. the real mistake is to stop trying. burrhus frederic skinner was among the behavioral psychologists to have the most immense contribution to the field of psychology.
- Explains that reinforcement principles are widely used by parents, employers, judicial systems, sports teams, to change one’s own behavior as well as the behavior of others.
- Explains that b.f. skinner was born in susquehanna, pennsylvania on march 20th, 1904. he had a significant fear of hell which eventually led him to turn towards atheism.
- Describes how skinner was a struggling writer, living with his parents due to his lack of success in that field, until he found himself upon the writings of watson and pavlov. he received his phd in psychology in 1931 and married yvonne blue.
- Narrates how skinner taught at the university of minnesota at minneapolis, indiana university, and harvard for the rest of his professional career. he signed the humanist manifesto ii, which was written by john dewey.
- Explains that skinner's book, verbal behavior, articulated to the field of psychology that language is a behavior. he taught that the development of language can be guided by the principles of reinforcement.
- Analyzes how skinner's work influenced how language is taught to learners whose typical path in development was not taken. he put a strong emphasis on teaching functional communication by effectively teaching an individual to be able to request items, objects, activities.
- Explains skinner's suggestion that you should have multiple opportunities to practice functionally communicating and getting reinforced for it. the science of applied behavioral analysis suggests reinforcing between two and three seconds after a desired behavior has been elicited by an antecedent to solidify the connect ion between the behavior and the reinforcement for
- Explains skinner's verbal behavior approach, which uses requesting to start the learner in building momentum, to teach the individual how to label items that they desire and items in the environment.
- Explains that b.f. skinner was among the behavioral psychologists to have the most immense contribution to the field of psychology.
898 wordsRead More - Developmental Theoristexplanatory essayOriginally named Burrhus Frederic Skinner, B.F. Skinner was born on March 20, 1904 in Susquehanna Depot, Pennsylvania. Growing up with quite a complex mind, Skinner was ultimately directed towards the field of psychology. While studying at Harvard University, Skinner became immensely involved in the topic of behaviorism. Following in the footsteps of the legendary John B. Watson, Skinner began searching for alternatives to classical conditioning (a naturally occurring stimulus is paired with a response). While Watson believed in focusing on internal mental events, Skinner believed it was more important to focus on observable behavior. Observable behavior reflects on the causes of actions and their consequences; from this perspective, operant conditioning was derived. Skinner’s theory was influenced by the work of Edward Thorndike, the creator of the ‘Law of Effect.’ Thorndike conducted his studies through animals (using a puzzle box), which would also end up being influential in Skinner’s theory of operant conditioning.
In this essay, the author
- Explains the theory and development of operant conditioning by b.f. skinner. operant conditioning reverses habits and tendencies by establishing reinforcement schedules.
- Explains that burrhus frederic skinner was born on march 20, 1904 in susquehanna depot, pennsylvania.
- Explains thorndike's theory of the law of effect. positive reinforcement strengthens a behavior, while negative reinforcement weakens it.
- Explains that operant conditioning has become a great tool and intervention in the classroom or when learning new behaviors.
- Explains skinner's extensive study of behavior modification, including his book "the behavior of organisms" and his inventions of the operant conditioning chamber and the cumulative recorder.
- Explains that operant conditioning is the practice of obtaining rewards and avoiding punishment. b.f. skinner has been noted as the "father of operant conditioning."
843 wordsRead More - B. F. Skinnerexplanatory essayBehaviorism is a school of thought in psychology that is interested in observable behavior. Skinner said, “Behaviorism is not the science of human behavior; it is the philosophy of that science.“ There are various types of behavior, such as innate behavior. Innate behaviors are certain behaviors that we are born with, such as eating when we are hungry and sleeping when we are tired. Early Life Burrhus Frederic Skinner was born in Susquehanna, Pennsylvania on March 20, 1904 to William Arthur and Grace Madge Skinner. Skinner also had a younger brother named Edmond James Skinner, born November 6, 1906. At the young age of sixteen, Edmond died of a cerebral aneurysm. .
In this essay, the author
- Describes how skinner became interested in animal behavior after seeing the performing pigeons and playing the saxophone. he met fred keller and charles trueblood, who were strict behaviorists.
- Explains how skinner used the term "operant" to identify behavior traceable to reinforcing contingencies rather than eliciting stimuli.
- Opines that skinner was one of the most important american psychologists ever. he was known as the father of operant conditioning.
- Describes b.f. skinner as one of the most influential theorists in modern psychology.
1603 wordsRead More - Behaviorism: John B. Skinner's Approach To Psychologyexplanatory essayBehaviorism is an approach to psychology based on the proposition that behavior can be researched scientifically without recourse to inner mental states. It is a form of materialism, denying any independent significance for mind. Its significance for psychological treatment has been profound, making it one of the pillars of pharmacological therapy. One of the assumptions of behaviorist thought is that free will is illusory, and that all behavior is determined by the environment either through association or reinforcement.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that behaviorist techniques have long been employed in education to promote behavior that is desirable and discourage that which is not.
- Explains that negative reinforcement increases the probability of a response that removes or prevents an adverse condition.
- Explains that psychologist b f skinner was interested in learning and behavior. he believes that people learn to avoid negative things and strive for positive things.
- Explains that behaviorism is a form of materialism, denying any independent significance for mind. it runs concurrently with the psychoanalysis movement in psychology in the 20th century.
- Explains that simple contracts can be effective in helping children focus on behavior change. teachers and parents work together to ensure that the contract is being fulfilled.
- Explains that punishment is effective in quickly eliminating undesirable behaviors. failure to do homework results in after-school detention.
- Explains skinner's view that classical conditioning was too simplistic to explain complex human behaviour.
- Explains that punishment is the opposite of reinforcement since it is designed to weaken or eliminate a response rather than increase it.
1800 wordsRead More - Operant Conditioning In Lord Of The Fliesexplanatory essayB.F Skinner developed operant conditioning. It’s the theory that one’s behavior is influenced by the actions that follow afterward. If the actions that follow afterward are consequences, then the behavior according to the theory will fade away. If the actions afterward is a positive action like a reward the behavior will continue on.
In this essay, the author
- Explains b.f. skinner's operant conditioning theory, which states that one’s behavior is influenced by the actions that follow afterward.
- Explains that in the book lord of the flies, the boys don't have anyone to provide consequences or rewards. roger's rock throwing is a prime example of operant conditioning.
151 wordsRead More - Is Conceptual Critiques Relevant for Psychology?analytical essayWe shall consider Skinner’s Operant Conditioning theory as another type of example on Conceptual Critiques (Skinner, 1963). His theory states that the best way to understand a behavior is to look at the association made between the behavior and the consequence of that behavior. Although Skinner’s primary interest was in human behavior, most of his research was done on animals using laboratory apparatus well known as the Skinner box.
In this essay, the author
- Explains skinner's operant conditioning theory, which states that the best way to understand a behavior is to look at the association between the behavior and the consequence of that behavior.
- Analyzes how skinner placed rats in his experiment and observed their behavior. he observed that if a hungry rat receives food pellets, its response rate increases with the passage of time.
- Argues that anderson, bothell, byrne, douglass, and lebiere (2004) commented that skinner did not show interest on why the organism behaved in this way and instead was satisfied with knowing what kind of behavior could be expected from various organisms.
- Opines that psychologist should not overlook conceptual critiques in their theoretical works as it helps their theory to be stronger and reliable.
- Analyzes piaget's child development theory as another type of example on conceptual critiques. in his theory, he stated a critical distinction between true and necessary knowledge.
- Explains that empirical evidences argued that piaget underestimated the young child's operational competencies. conceptual critiques had been a support for his theory.
- Explains that s of most studies overlooked piaget's conceptual distinction between true and necessary knowledge. they engaged in experiments without preliminary conceptual analyses.
- Analyzes how conceptual critiques were a defense for piaget's theory, since he stated his concepts, inferences and hypothesis clearly.
- Concludes that conceptual critics is relevant for psychology. jung's analytic theory focused on personality development through a continuous cycle of self-awareness, transformation, and selfactualization.
- Explains the drawbacks of conceptual critiques, stating that it is a form of controlling people's words and accounts, and conflicts with the tolerance that is obligatory for scientific growth.
- Opines that conceptual critiques only criticizes and shows psychologists what not to do, while psychologists need the most are guidelines. it could be regarded positively in at least two interrelated ways.
- Opines that conceptual critiques are essential for psychology and it is important that psychologists should not ignore them.
- Opines that psychologists should not ignore conceptual critiques, since it assesses the uncertainty of scientific concepts, measures the discrepancy of a set of statements and laws, and analyzes inferences.
- Describes the works of j. r. anderson, d. byrne, s. douglass, and c. lebiere.
- Cites gelman, baillargeon, and rosen, e. f., in their book, the gatekeepers of psychology: evaluation of peer review by case history.
- Explains machado, silva, & macaskill, a. (2010). personality, individual differences and intelligence.
- Describes roy, b., siegel, l. and skinner, f.
1463 wordsRead More