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BEHAVIORISM:B.F. SKINNER
Richard Allen & Rick Munoz
The Life and Times of B.F. Skinner
Born on March 20, 1904 in Susquehanna, PA
Received BA in English from Hamilton College
Received Masters and Doctorate in Psychology at Harvard
Behaviorism
Focuses on observable behavior
Behavior is explained by “stimulus response”, not on internal mental states or consciousness
Two types of conditioning: Classical and Behavioral/Operant
Radical Behaviorism
Operant Conditioning Chamber
Verbal Behavior
Skinner’s Contributions
A New Way of Thinking
Radical Behaviorism
Radical Behaviorism
“Radical” because of the differences between his ideas and other behaviorists
Can only scientifically study behavior, not mental processes Didn’t take into account hypotheses
Behavior is not a result of private events, emotions or inner thoughts
Operant Conditioning
Voluntary behaviors are modified because of consequences
Behaviors are maintained
Learning occurs as the result of selection by consequences of behavior
Tools of Operant Conditioning
Reinforcement; Both positive and negative. Increase the probability that the antecedent behavior will
happen again.
Punishment; Both positive and negative. Decreases the likelihood that the antecedent behavior will
happen again.
Extinction; Lack of a consequence following a behavior. Will cause the behavior to decline, eventually ending it.
Skinner Box
Operant Conditioning Chamber
What is it?
Used animals (pigeons and rats)
Subject presses a bar or key which leads to the presentation of food or water (reinforcement), or shocks on the ground (punishment)
Used different schedules of reinforcement
What is the purpose?
Study of behavior in a controlled environment How schedule of
reinforcement affects responses
Constructing Linguistic Stimuli
Verbal Behavior
Verbal Behavior
Published in 1957
Extended operant conditioning to verbal behavior
Basic foundation of teaching verbal behavior as part of an Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) program
Verbal Behavior
Helps disabled children develop language through the use of Reinforcement
Imitation (Echoic) repertoire
A ‘mand’ (request for what is desired), is reinforced
Of Skinner’s Behaviorism
Strengths & Weaknesses
Behaviorism
Ideas are still widely used today
Changed the way people look at things that are observable
Helpful in controlling behavior (parents and teachers)
Uses assumptions
Treat people like controllable objects
Doesn’t always work
Strengths Weaknesses
Classroom Instruction
Classroom environment/how instruction looks
The environment is very important to Skinner. So students should be arranged close to each other and there should be affective stimuli for students to use.
Target Grade Level
Radical behaviorism can be used at any grade level but is geared for use at early on in school life especially in the elementary years.
Goals for Instruction
The goals for Radical Behaviorism in use in the classroom is that it is designed to reinforce a desired behavior among students or a student in the classroom environment.
What does the Technology look like?
The technology for radical behaviorism can be very simple, e.g. just a teacher
It can be very complex, a teacher could use computers and other devices, methods to manipulate a behavior.
Simple Example
Let’s say there’s a kid named John, he is a behavior issue in the class and often makes fun of the teacher causing a massive uproar among fellow students. This makes the class unruly and difficult to teach. The teacher must act fast to correct this behavior issue.
She can use two forms of punishment, be they positive or negative. Positive punishment, she could tell the student not to do it again, and negative punishment, she could take away the kid’s recess for like 2 weeks to correct the behavior. Thus this should stop Jon from repeating the behavior.
Bibliography
http://www.learning-theories.com/behaviorism.html
http://www.teach-nology.com/ideas/behavior/2/
http://www.innovativelearning.com/teaching/behaviorism.html
http://www.teach-nology.com/teachers/methods/theories/
http://www.psychology.uiowa.edu/faculty/wasserman/glossary/punishment.html
http://www.essortment.com/b-f-skinner-behaviorism-35995.html
Bibliography
Websites: http://www.skewsme.com/behavior.html#axzz1mxl93zRn
http://www.nndb.com/people/297/000022231/http://www.innovativelearning.com/teaching/behaviorism.htmlhttp://www.learning-theories.com/behaviorism.htmlhttp://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/radical-behaviorist/201002/the-radical-in-radical-behaviorismhttp://www.christinaburkaba.com/AVB.htm
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_ctJqjlrHA
