Skinner and the Behaviorist Theories of Learning
By Bob Jennings
I was quite impressed with the discussion by Dr. Glassman on B. F. Skinner. Through an in-class demonstration using two of my colleagues, he pointed out that Skinner, one of the most influential of American psychologists and a noted behaviorist, is credited with developing the theory of operant conditioning. This theory purports that behavior is determined by its consequences, be they reinforcements or punishments, which make it more or less likely that the behavior will occur again. Professor Glassman pointed out that teachers can get students to engage in tasks by rewarding them and that they can stop using the rewards once the behavior is established. The literature on Skinner makes this point also and he contends that the introduction of rewards can motivate some students more than others. In other words, rewards can have both a positive and negative affect on a student's learning and motivation.
B.F. Skinner's theory is based upon the idea that learning is a function of change in overt behavior. Changes in behavior are the result of an individual's response to events (stimuli) that occur in the environment. ... A reinforcer is anything that strengthens the desired response.
Skinner believed that behavior is learned and through operate conditioning one can understand the behavior by looking at the causes of a behavior and the consequences that follow it. Skinner’s theory was influenced by psychologist Thorndike’s Law of Effect that purported behaviors will be repeated if followed by a pleasing consequence and will stop if unpleasant consequences occur. Skinner believed that reinforcements and punishment can be used to elicit desired behaviors or deter bad behaviors and that reinforcements can be positive or negative. Reinforcements are but one method used to influence a behavior. As Skinner points out, punishment can be used to modify a behavior and it has the reverse effect of reinforcements on behavior. Punishment is often used to stop a particular behavior instead of trying to make it continue.
By Bob Jennings
I was quite impressed with the discussion by Dr. Glassman on B. F. Skinner. Through an in-class demonstration using two of my colleagues, he pointed out that Skinner, one of the most influential of American psychologists and a noted behaviorist, is credited with developing the theory of operant conditioning. This theory purports that behavior is determined by its consequences, be they reinforcements or punishments, which make it more or less likely that the behavior will occur again. Professor Glassman pointed out that teachers can get students to engage in tasks by rewarding them and that they can stop using the rewards once the behavior is established. The literature on Skinner makes this point also and he contends that the introduction of rewards can motivate some students more than others. In other words, rewards can have both a positive and negative affect on a student's learning and motivation.
B.F. Skinner's theory is based upon the idea that learning is a function of change in overt behavior. Changes in behavior are the result of an individual's response to events (stimuli) that occur in the environment. ... A reinforcer is anything that strengthens the desired response.
Skinner believed that behavior is learned and through operate conditioning one can understand the behavior by looking at the causes of a behavior and the consequences that follow it. Skinner’s theory was influenced by psychologist Thorndike’s Law of Effect that purported behaviors will be repeated if followed by a pleasing consequence and will stop if unpleasant consequences occur. Skinner believed that reinforcements and punishment can be used to elicit desired behaviors or deter bad behaviors and that reinforcements can be positive or negative. Reinforcements are but one method used to influence a behavior. As Skinner points out, punishment can be used to modify a behavior and it has the reverse effect of reinforcements on behavior. Punishment is often used to stop a particular behavior instead of trying to make it continue.
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