Skinner - Behavioral Analysis Flashcards
Skinner minimized ___, instead focusing almost entirely on ___ ___.
Speculation, observable behavior
Skinner’s strict focus on observable behavior was referred to as ____ behaviorism.
Radical
T/F – Skinner avoids all hypothetical constructs – egos, traits, drives, etc.
True
Skinner: A word for those who reject the nation of free will.
Determinist
Skinner’s theory of personality is based largely on his behavioral analysis on what?
Rats and pigeons
T/F – Skinner believed that internal states didn’t exist.
False – he agreed they exist, but felt they cannot be used to explain behavior.
Skinner: Only ___ ___ matters within the province of science.
Overt (observable) behavior
T/F – Skinner felt that people eat because they’re hungry.
False – hunger isn’t an overt behavior. If deprivation of food increases likelihood to eat, you can predict eating.
Skinner: Define classical and operant conditioning.
Classical elicits a response with a specific stimulus.
Operant follows an emitted behavior with reinforcement.
Skinner: In behavioral analysis, what is shaping?
Shaping a final complex set of behavior by rewarding successive approximations of the desired behavior.
Skinner: Due to reinforcement history, an organism learns to respond to some elements in the environment, and not to others. This is called ____.
Operant discrimination
Skinner: What’s the difference between positive and negative reinforcement?
Positive: add a stimulus to increase behavior likelihood of recurrence.
Negative: remove aversive stimulus to increase likelihood of recurrence.
Skinner: T/F: Punishment is the opposite of reinforcement.
False. It’s not the opposite b/c punishment results are unpredictable.
Skinner: What’s a conditioned reinforcer?
An environmental event that’s not by nature satisfying but becomes so b/c it’s associated with other unconditioned reinforcers, like food.
Skinner: What’s a generalized reinforcer?
A conditioned reinforcer with one or more primary reinforcers, such as food, shelter, etc.
A conditioned reinforcer is not by nature satisfying, but is associated w/ unlearned reinforcers such as food.
Skinner: List the four principle intermittent schedules of reinforcement.
Fixed-ratio, variable-ratio, fixed-interval, variable-interval
Skinner: Reinforcements can be continuous or ____.
Intermittent
Skinner: T/F Intermittent reinforcements are more efficient and more resistant to extinction.
True
Skinner: What are the two types of punishment?
Use of an aversive stimulus and removal of a positive reinforcer.
Skinner: When does operant extinction occur?
When an experimenter systematically withholds reinforcement of a previously learned response, until probably of that response reaches zero.
Skinner: Human behavior is shaped by which three sources?
- Personal history of reinforcement
- Natural selection
- Evolution of cultural practices.
Skinner: Human behavior is shaped by three sources: a) personal history of reinforcement b) ___ ___ and 3) evolution of cultural practices.
Natural selection
Skinner: Human behavior is shaped by three sources: a) personal history of reinforcement b) natural selection and 3) ___ ___ ___ ___.
Evolution of cultural practices
Skinner: Social control is achieved through a) operant conditioning b) describing the contingencies of reinforcement c) depriving or satiating a person or d) … what?
Physical restraint
Skinner: Social control is achieved through a) ____ ____ b) describing the contingencies of reinforcement c) depriving or satiating a person or d) physical restraint
Operant conditioning (positive or negative reinforcement or one of two types of punishment)
Skinner: Social control is achieved through a) operant conditioning b) describing the ___ of ___ c) depriving or satiating a person or d) physical restraint
Describing the contingencies of reinforcement (threats, promises)
Skinner: Can people control their own behavior through self-control, employing free will?
Yes, but all control ultimately rests with the environment, not free will.
Skinner: How are unhealthy behaviors learned?
In the same way as all other behaviors – that is, mostly through operant conditioning.
Skinner: To change unhealthy behaviors, therapists use a variety of behavior modification techniques, all of which are based on what?
Operant conditioning.
Summarize Skinner’s Behavioral Analysis.
- Only studied overt behavior can explain behavior.
- 3 forces shape behavior a) personal history of reinforcement b) natural selection c) evolution of cultural practices
- Operant conditioning uses reinforcement / punishment contingent on occurrence of a specific behavior.
- Pos. and neg. reinforcers – added/removed to increase prob. of behavior.
- Punishment – add bad or remove good stimulus.
- Intermittent schedules more efficient & resistant to extinction.
- Ppl can self-control their behavior but all control rests with environment, not free will.
Skinner believed that passive resistance is most likely to be used
Select one:
a. before the strategy of escape.
b. in conjunction with physical restraint.
c. after escape and revolt have failed.
d. as a form of negative reinforcement.
c). After escape and have revolted.
Skinner would view warfare as an example of
Select one:
a. an aggressive behaviour.
b. a maladaptive remnant of cultural evolution.
c. a maladaptive negative reinforcer.
d. a behaviour independent of cultural evolution.
c) a maladaptive negative reinforcer.
