B.F Skinner - Behavioural Theory

B.F Skinner – Behavioural Theory

·         Skinner- American Psychologist.

• ·         Developed Theory of Operant Conditioning : Whether behaviour is determined by its consequences, Reinforcements or punishments are used, which make it more or less likely that behaviour will occur again.
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• ·         Positive Reinforcement- Praise and Response
• ·         Negative Reinforcement- Punishment/ignored

Skinner viewed babies as ‘empty vessels’ in which language had to be ‘Put into’. He suggested that children learn language through the environment (e.g. people) and consequences of undesired responses.

·         He noticed parents reward children for babbling etc, they don’t punish their baby for no vocalisation.

·         Skinners suggested that babbling would not progress into speech unless the parents give the child a response.

·         Said children imitate speech, if this is rewarded, learning takes place.

• How he discovered the theory:  Placing a rat in the ‘Skinner Box’

1.  He showed positive reinforcement- placing a hungry rat in his skinner box. The box contained a lever on the side and as the rat moved around the box it would accidentally knock the lever.
2.   Food would fall.
3. The rat learnt to go straight to the lever after a few times
4.  The consequence of receiving the food, if they pressed the lever, it is ensured that they would repeat action again and again.
5. He shown Negative Reinforcement by placing a rat in his Skinner Box and then giving it an unpleasant electric current.
6. As the rat moved around the box it would accidentally knock the lever
7. The electric current would then switch off
8. The rats learnt to go straight to the lever after a few times of being put in the box
9. The consequence of escaping the electric current ensured that they would repeat action again and again.

Evidence- Rat pressing level to get a reward is like a child doing something and getting an outcome.

Not too reliable... a rat and a child is a big difference.

Punishment- Opposite of Reinforcement

Problems with punishment-

·         Punished behaviour is not forgotten, its suppressed- behaviour returns when punishment is no longer present

·         Causes aggression, which is a way to cope with problems

·         Can create fear. E.g. fear of school