Psychology 3260: Personality & Social Development Don Hartmann, Spring 2006 Lecture 7: Skinner

Overview of Theory Lectures In the Introduction to Theories supplemental lecture, I talk about what theories are, the functions they serve, examples involving “Dickie loves Johnnie,” & standards for evaluating theories Beginning today we will discuss 3 theoreticians, Skinner, Bandura, & Piaget

Supplemental References A few of the interesting books by Skinner: Walden II (1948), Science and Human Behavior (1953), Beyond Freedom and Dignity (1971), and About Behaviorism (1974).

Overview of Skinner Lecture Overlap pp Lecture: Introduction to Skinner Methodological Contributions Principles of Behavior Minor Principle & Emphases Implications for Development Evaluation Summary Next: Lect. #8: Bandura

Introduction Most influential psychologist of the 20 th century Not a developmental theory—a psychology of action The Professor will Profess—Skinner is relevant to the course, despite warnings from Shaffer (text writer) Some Equivalences: Operant Psychology, Radical Behaviorism, Skinnerian Psychology

Methodological Contributions  Philosophy of Science: Behaviorism Behavior is the focus; no emphasis on the black boxes Use of objective, verifiable data The proper study for psychology is the behavior of individual organisms (e.g., people); as a result…  Single Subject Designs  Functional Definitions—rather than Procedural Definitions  Functional Analysis: The control of behavior is found by examining its function

Behavior is Controlled by It’s Consequences

Principles of Behavior Principle of Reinforcement Positive Reinforcer: If a behavior is strengthened when it produces a consequence, that consequence is a positive reinforcer. Negative Reinforcer: If a behavior is strengthened when it reduces or avoids or terminates a consequence, then that consequence is a negative reinforcer Reinforcers strengthen behavior.

“Coercion” Illustrating Negative Reinforcement (1) A girl teasing her older brother, who makes her stop teasing by yelling at her. [Yelling is negatively reinforced (strengthened) as it terminates teasing.] (2) A few minutes later, the girl calls her brother a nasty name. The boy then chases and hits her— and she stops calling him nasty names. [Chasing and hitting are negatively reinforced by the termination of name-calling.] (3)She then whimpers and hits him back, and he withdraws. [His withdrawal negatively reinforces her hits.]

Extinction Weakening of a behavior by following it with nothing (or some neutral event) Examples: Decrease (weakening) of lecture preparation produced by unresponsive students. The decrease in temper tantrums that occurs when parents don’t respond to the tantrums

Punishment Punishment WEAKENS behavior “Positive” Punishment: If a behavior is weakened by the presentation of a consequence, then that consequence is a punishment for that behavior “Negative” Punishment: If a behavior is weakened by the avoidance or reduction of a consequence, that consequence serves as a punishing consequence for that behavior

Review of Principles of Reinforcement & Punishment R=Response; C=Consequence,  =Produces If R  +C, and R is strengthened, then C is a positive reinforcer for R If R  -C, and R is strengthened, then C is negative reinforcer for R If R  +C, and R is weakened, then C is a punisher for R If R  -C, and R is weakened, then C is a punisher for R

Minor Principles Immediate consequences are more effective than delayed consequences (immediate pleasure of nicotine vs. lung problems when older) Intermittent reinforcement is more effective for maintaining a response than is continuous reinforcement Principle of Shaping (reinforcing successive approximations) But check: p p

Emphases Use Positive Control Avoid Negative Control (punishment): It excessive use results in avoidance of the user imitation of the negative control undesirable emotional behavior that interferes with learning +

Practical Implication Social Engineering Behavior Modification in schools, homes, & treatment centers

Contributions Practical: Consequences Control Behavior Emphasis on Positive Consequences Shaping for Acquiring Complex Behaviors Behavior Modification Procedures Academic Behaviorism Functional Analysis N=1 Methodology

Summary & Conclusions Skinner’s notions are important to understanding behavior—its acquisition & maintenance. However, he does not have a developmental theory Next time: Lect. #8: Bandura Go in Peace!