Skinner Article

Skinner Article

Pamela Draughn

BEH 225

OCTOBER 21, 2010

Heddora Wilburn

Skinner Article

Burrhuss Frederic Skinner (B.F.) Skinner (1904-1990) is considered by most to be one of the pivotal psychologists of the twentieth century. His theories are widely given in all walks of life. (B.F.) Was an American psychologist best known for his theory he developed over many years, which he called operant conditioning was developed from Ivan Pavlov’s earlier concept of classical condition. Operant conditioning is a little more difficult than classical condition. Operant conditions are learned behaviors that are design to operate on the environment to gain a reward or avoid a punishment. Such as a dog learning to sit or heel on command or children learning to pick up and clean behind themselves to get some type a reward from parents or keep from being punished. So operant condition is when you gain desire or avoid something unpleasant. Skinner shows that punishment is any consequence that decreases the chances that a particular behavior will not occur again. For example if a child is put on punishment strong enough for misbehavior but is not guaranteed that it wouldn’t be repeated again. This is called a reinforcer, which simply means it, is likely that the behavior will be repeated. We all know that punishment doesn’t always work. Some children and grown ups as well continue to misbehave and do wrong doing even after being put on punishment more than once. Superstitious behavior is for an example the tooth fairy we all know that there is know tooth fairy but as child we all grew up believing in the tooth fairy so ever time we lost a teeth we would place it under our pillow and look for money the next morning. We will tend to repeat that action over and over again even if the reinforcement is not produced directly by what we have done.

Reference:

www.enotes.com/psychology-theories/skinner burrhus0frederic. Retrieves (2010)

Psychology: An Introduction (12th ed.).