Skinner - Behavioral Analysis

Question 1

Skinner minimized ___, instead focusing almost entirely on ___ ___.

Answer 1

Speculation, observable behavior

Question 2

Skinner’s strict focus on observable behavior was referred to as ____ behaviorism.

Answer 2

Radical

Question 3

T/F – Skinner avoids all hypothetical constructs – egos, traits, drives, etc.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Skinner: A word for those who reject the nation of free will.

Answer 4

Determinist

Question 5

Skinner’s theory of personality is based largely on his behavioral analysis on what?

Answer 5

Rats and pigeons

Question 6

T/F – Skinner believed that internal states didn’t exist.

Answer 6

False – he agreed they exist, but felt they cannot be used to explain behavior.

Question 7

Skinner: Only ___ ___ matters within the province of science.

Answer 7

Overt (observable) behavior

Question 8

T/F – Skinner felt that people eat because they’re hungry.

Answer 8

False – hunger isn’t an overt behavior. If deprivation of food increases likelihood to eat, you can predict eating.

Question 9

Skinner: Define classical and operant conditioning.

Answer 9

Classical elicits a response with a specific stimulus.

Operant follows an emitted behavior with reinforcement.

Question 10

Skinner: In behavioral analysis, what is shaping?

Answer 10

Shaping a final complex set of behavior by rewarding successive approximations of the desired behavior.

Question 11

Skinner: Due to reinforcement history, an organism learns to respond to some elements in the environment, and not to others. This is called ____.

Answer 11

Operant discrimination

Question 12

Skinner: What’s the difference between positive and negative reinforcement?

Answer 12

Positive: add a stimulus to increase behavior likelihood of recurrence.
Negative: remove aversive stimulus to increase likelihood of recurrence.

Question 13

Skinner: T/F: Punishment is the opposite of reinforcement.

Answer 13

False. It’s not the opposite b/c punishment results are unpredictable.

Question 14

Skinner: What’s a conditioned reinforcer?

Answer 14

An environmental event that’s not by nature satisfying but becomes so b/c it’s associated with other unconditioned reinforcers, like food.

Question 15

Skinner: What’s a generalized reinforcer?

Answer 15

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.

Question 16

Skinner: List the four principle intermittent schedules of reinforcement.

Answer 16

Fixed-ratio, variable-ratio, fixed-interval, variable-interval

Question 17

Skinner: Reinforcements can be continuous or ____.

Answer 17

Intermittent

Question 18

Skinner: T/F Intermittent reinforcements are more efficient and more resistant to extinction.

Answer 18

True

Question 19

Skinner: What are the two types of punishment?

Answer 19

Use of an aversive stimulus and removal of a positive reinforcer.

Question 20

Skinner: When does operant extinction occur?

Answer 20

When an experimenter systematically withholds reinforcement of a previously learned response, until probably of that response reaches zero.

Question 21

Skinner: Human behavior is shaped by which three sources?

Answer 21

1. Personal history of reinforcement
2. Natural selection
3. Evolution of cultural practices.

Question 22

Skinner: Human behavior is shaped by three sources: a) personal history of reinforcement b) ___ ___ and 3) evolution of cultural practices.

Answer 22

Natural selection

Question 23

Skinner: Human behavior is shaped by three sources: a) personal history of reinforcement b) natural selection and 3) ___ ___ ___ ___.

Answer 23

Evolution of cultural practices

Question 24

Skinner: Social control is achieved through a) operant conditioning b) describing the contingencies of reinforcement c) depriving or satiating a person or d) … what?

Answer 24

Physical restraint

Question 25

Skinner: Social control is achieved through a) ____ ____ b) describing the contingencies of reinforcement c) depriving or satiating a person or d) physical restraint

Answer 25

Operant conditioning (positive or negative reinforcement or one of two types of punishment)

Question 26

Skinner: Social control is achieved through a) operant conditioning b) describing the ___ of ___ c) depriving or satiating a person or d) physical restraint

Answer 26

Describing the contingencies of reinforcement (threats, promises)

Question 27

Skinner: Can people control their own behavior through self-control, employing free will?

Answer 27

Yes, but all control ultimately rests with the environment, not free will.

Question 28

Skinner: How are unhealthy behaviors learned?

Answer 28

In the same way as all other behaviors – that is, mostly through operant conditioning.

Question 29

Skinner: To change unhealthy behaviors, therapists use a variety of behavior modification techniques, all of which are based on what?

Answer 29

Operant conditioning.

Question 30

Summarize Skinner’s Behavioral Analysis.

Answer 30

• 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.

Question 31

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.

Answer 31

c). After escape and have revolted.

Question 32

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.

Answer 32

c) a maladaptive negative reinforcer.