Operant Conditioning & Skinner's Research (approaches | LA: the Behaviourist Approach) Flashcards
Operant conditioning (OC) is
learning via consequences
Operant conditioning (OC) along with classical conditioning
it is one of the core assumptions which underpin the behaviourist approach
Where classical conditioning emphasises
the stimulus-response mechanism of learned behaviour
Where classical conditioning emphasises the stimulus-response mechanism of learned behaviour, OC emphasises
the role of reward and reinforcement in behaviour
OC emphasises the role of reward and reinforcement in behaviour, some behaviours will be
repeated based on their positive consequences
OC emphasises the role of reward and reinforcement in behaviour, some behaviours will not be
repeated based on their negative consequences
OC emphasises the role of reward and reinforcement in behaviour, some behaviours will be repeated not
for their positive consequences but to avoid their negative consequences e.g. ‘I suppose I’d better choose the lentil and sprout salad just to stop my friend nagging me about how unhealthy my diet is’
Consequences are learned via three types of direct reinforcement:
- positive reinforcement
- negative reinforcement
- punishment
direct reinforcement: positive reinforcement is
performing a behaviour to experience the positive consequences e.g. completing homework to gain praise from the teacher
direct reinforcement: negative reinforcement is
performing a behaviour to avoid unpleasant consequences e.g. completing homework to prevent being given a detention
direct reinforcement: punishment is
- a type of deterrent that can be positive/direct e.g. told off by the teacher
- a deterrent can also be negative/indirect e.g.not being allowed to attend a party
The consequence of the performed behaviour is known as the
reinforcer
The consequence of the performed behaviour is known as the reinforcer e.g. praise from the teacher is a
positive reinforcer
The consequence of the performed behaviour is known as the reinforcer e.g. a detention is a
negative reinforcer
B.F. Skinner (1953) suggested that
learning is an active process whereby humans and animals operate upon their environment (hence, ‘operant conditioning’)
Skinner identified three types of operant
- neutral operants
- reinforcers
- punishers
Neutral operants are
environmental forces that neither increase nor decrease the repetition of a specific behaviour
Reinforcers are
environmental forces that increase the repetition of a specific behaviour
A positive reinforcer is
a behaviour which is repeated to enjoy the pleasant consequences
A negative reinforcer
is a behaviour which is repeated to avoid unpleasant consequences
Punishers are
environmental forces that decrease the repetition of a specific behaviour
Skinner set up a series of experiments to determine how
animals learn from the consequences of their actions, dependent upon the specific operants he implemented
Skinner devised a box known as the
‘Skinner Box’
Skinner devised a box known as the ‘Skinner Box’
- Skinner placed
one rat at a time inside the box
Skinner devised a box known as the ‘Skinner Box’
- Each box
contained different stimuli, including a lever that released food (the rat’s reward) and an electroplated floor (the rat’s punishment)
Skinner devised a box known as the ‘Skinner Box’
- Positive
reinforcement was demonstrated by placing a hungry rat in the box
Skinner devised a box known as the ‘Skinner Box’
- The box contained a
lever which the rat (initially) accidentally triggered as it explored the box
Skinner devised a box known as the ‘Skinner Box’
- Upon triggering
the lever a food pellet was delivered (reward)
Skinner devised a box known as the ‘Skinner Box’
- The rats quickly
learned (it only took them a few tries) to go straight to the lever
Skinner devised a box known as the ‘Skinner Box’
- The consequence/reward (food)
of pressing the lever saw them repeating the action over and over again
Skinner devised a box known as the ‘Skinner Box’
- Negative reinforcement was demonstrated
by placing a rat in the box and then subjecting it to an unpleasant electric shock (punishment)
Skinner devised a box known as the ‘Skinner Box’
- Negative reinforcement was demonstrated, the rat (initially)
accidentally triggered the lever as it explored the box
Skinner devised a box known as the ‘Skinner Box’
- Negative reinforcement was demonstrated, upon triggering the lever
the electric current was switched off (unpleasant sensations stopped)
Skinner devised a box known as the ‘Skinner Box’
- Negative reinforcement was demonstrated, the rats quickly learned
to trigger the lever immediately as soon as they were placed in the box
Skinner devised a box known as the ‘Skinner Box’
- Negative reinforcement was demonstrated, the consequence/reward
of escaping the electric shock saw them repeating the action over and over again
Skinner devised a box known as the ‘Skinner Box’
- In another variation, the rats learned to
avoid the electric shock (punishment) by pressing the lever when the light came on (avoiding punishment = negative reinforcement)
The ‘Skinner box’ diagram
Evaluation of operant conditioning & Skinner’s research
Strengths
- OC has good
application to the maintenance of phobias
Evaluation of operant conditioning & Skinner’s research
Strengths
- OC has good application to the maintenance of phobias, someone
with social phobia uses avoidance to stay away from any events involving people, socialising etc.
Evaluation of operant conditioning & Skinner’s research
Strengths
- OC has good application to the maintenance of phobias, the use of
avoidance is an example of negative reinforcement i.e. taking steps to keep away from large gatherings of people
Evaluation of operant conditioning & Skinner’s research
Strengths
- OC has good application to the maintenance of phobias, the more
the avoidance is repeated the more the phobic person is rewarded with feelings of relief and security
Evaluation of operant conditioning & Skinner’s research
Strengths
- Skinner used
standardised procedures in controlled conditions which means that his research has good reliability
Evaluation of operant conditioning & Skinner’s research
Strengths
- Skinner used standardised procedures in controlled conditions which means that his research has good reliability, reliability
is a strength of experimental research as it satisfies the criteria for falsifiability i.e. the theory can be tested scientifically
Evaluation of operant conditioning & Skinner’s research
Limitations
- OC cannot
explain why some people may repeat behaviours which are damaging, detrimental or unpleasant
Evaluation of operant conditioning & Skinner’s research
Limitations
- OC cannot explain why some people may repeat behaviours which are damaging, detrimental or unpleasant, people who self-harm
may do so for the specific relief it brings them but such behaviours would not be recognised as positive reinforcers by OC
Evaluation of operant conditioning & Skinner’s research
Limitations
- OC cannot explain why some people may repeat behaviours which are damaging, detrimental or unpleasant, people who continue to smoke
even though they may find the taste and the smell of cigarettes unpleasant defy the assumptions of OC
Evaluation of operant conditioning & Skinner’s research
Limitations
- Skinner’s research is overly
simplistic (environmental reductionism)
environmental reductionism is
the idea that people are at the mercy of their environment, and react passively to it
Evaluation of operant conditioning & Skinner’s research
Limitations
- Skinner’s research is overly simplistic (environmental reductionism), humans
are much more complex and sophisticated than animals and operate at a higher cognitive level
Evaluation of operant conditioning & Skinner’s research
Limitations
- Skinner’s research is overly simplistic (environmental reductionism), humans are much more complex and sophisticated than animals and operate at a higher cognitive level, people
are more able to take control of their behaviour via mechanisms such as self-efficacy than the behaviourists give them credit for
