Skinners operant learning theory

Question 1

What is skinners key idea?

Answer 1

Based on the idea that behaviour is determined by its consequences.
These consequences can be positive or negative.

Question 2

How can consequences help shape behaviour?

Answer 2

This can help shape our behaviour through operant learning also known as behaviourism.

Question 3

How was skinners theory tested?

Answer 3

Skinners theory was tested on rats and he found that they repeated behaviour if there was a positive outcome like food.

Question 4

How does skinners theory link to criminality?

Answer 4

if crime has a more rewarding than punishing consequence then people are more likely to engage in crime.

Question 5

Strengths

Answer 5

• his studies using animals show that they learn from reinforcements and some human learning is similar to animals.

Question 6

weaknesses

Answer 6

• based on studies of animals, it is not a realistic model of how humans learn criminal behaviour.
• the theory ignores things like thinking.