Transcript BF Skinner - David Crotts

BF Skinner
Most notable psychologist of 20th
century
Research dealing with learning and
operant conditioning has permeated
every field of human behavior -education, medicine, business
Operant Conditioning

B.F. Skinner
(1904-1990)
 developed
behavioral
technology
Operant Conditioning


B.F. Skinner
Walden II -- he
describes a utopia-like
commune run on his
operant principles.
Operant Conditioning


B.F. Skinner
Beyond Freedom
& Dignity -
Operant Condition
Learning by consequences
Operant Condition
Organism “operates” on
the environment
Operant Condition
Reinforcements --- Any
consequence that makes the
behavior it follows more
likely to occur
Operant Condition
Reinforcement ---Behavior that is
rewarded, is
repeated
Operant Condition
The frequency of the
behavior before
reinforcement is the
“operant level”
Operant Conditioning:
Skinner Box
Operant Condition
“Shape” behavior through
“successive approximations”
Operant Chamber

Skinner Box
 chamber with a
bar or key that an
animal
manipulates to
obtain a food or
water reinforcer
 contains devices
to record
responses
Basic Rules of Shaping Behavior
Choose appropriate reinforcer
Reinforcement should come
immediately after the behavior
Unpredictable schedule of
reinforcement is more effective
Avoid Punishment -- (it may stop
unwanted behaviors but returns along
with other unwanted behaviors)
Reinforcement
Positive Reinforcer - a response
followed by a consequence in the
environment results in a strengthening
of the response.
Negative Reinforcer - Response is
strengthened by the avoidance or
removal of an aversive stimulus.
Principles of Reinforcement
Fixed-ratio - reinforce behavior after a set
number of responses. Example: people paid
on a piecework basis; garment workers
Variable-ratio - reinforcers after an
unpredictable number of responses.
Gambers/anglers experience. Salesperson
job or on commission
Principles of Reinforcement
Fixed-interval - reinforce the first
response after a fixed time period.
Weekly Paycheck
Variable-interval: reinforce the first
response after varying time intervals.
Pop quiz.
Learning By Observation
Learning need not be through direct
observation, but imitating and observing
others
Process of observing & imitating a
specific behavior is called modeling
Learning By Observation
Albert Bandura
Learning By Observation
Bandura Experiment.
While child plays in room, adult in other
part of room begins lashing out at a
Bobo doll. After observing the outburst,
child is taken into room with appealing
toys. Experimenter enters room and
takes toys away (for good children).
Many children then become aggressive
Observational Learning

Observational Learning
 learning by observing others

Modeling
 process of observing and imitating a
specific behavior