psychologist, behaviorist, author, inventor, and social philosopher

B.F. Skinner

LifeBorn March 20, 1904 Died August 18, 1990 of leukemia 1926 received a B.A. in English Literature from Hamilton

CollegeSkinner was struggling as a writer when he discovered the

works of John Watson and Ivan PavlovSkinner was extremely interested in Pavlov’s work on

Classical ConditioningThis interest made Skinner decide to quit writing and enter a

psychology graduate program at Harvard University in 19281931- Skinner received his PhD from Harvard1936-Skinner married Yvonne Blue and had 2 daughters1948-Skinner joined the Psychology Department at Harvard

University He remained at Harvard for the rest of his career

Accomplishments Wrote 200 articles Wrote 20 BooksWon many awards for his research:1966- Edward Lee Thorndike Award, American

Psychological Association1968 - National Medal of Science from President

Lyndon B. Johnson1971 - Gold Medal of the American Psychological

Foundation1990 - Citation for Outstanding Lifetime

Contribution to PsychologySkinner’s work is used today by many people

including teachers, animal trainers, and mental health professionals

Operant Conditioning TheorySkinner believed that thoughts and

motivation could not be used to explain behavior. He suggested that we should look at the external observable causes of human behavior.

Skinner's theory explained how we acquire the range of learned behaviors we exhibit each and every day.

Sometimes referred to as instrumental conditioning

Through operant conditioning an association is made between a behavior and a consequence for that behavior

Skinner BoxSkinner is often referred to as the Father of

Operant Conditioning.He studied operant conditioning by

conducting experiments in what now is called Skinner Box.

Skinner Box is a box that an animal is placed in that has a bar or a key that the animal can press in order to get food or water as a type of reinforcement.

Rats and pigeons were mostly used in these experiments.

Skinner BoxThe point of these studies were to exhibit

that behaviors can be learned through reinforcements and punishers.

He used rats to show that this was an innate trait present that all animals would exhibit.

Skinner believed that humans learn behaviors in exactly the same ways that other animals do.

The learning was done by way of “shaping” the individual.

Skinner Box

This picture shows Skinner performing this experiment

Operant Conditioning TheorySkinner used the term operant to refer to

any “active” behavior that operates upon the environment to generate consequences.

Principle reinforcement: implies that consequences of behavior would influence whether the behavior would occur in the future or not. There are two kinds of reinforcements.

Positive reinforcement Negative reinforcement

ReinforcementsReinforcement is any event that strengthens

or increases the behavior it follows. Positive reinforcements are favorable events

or outcomes that are presented after the behavior. In situations that reflect positive reinforcement, a response or behavior is strengthened by the addition of something, such as praise or a direct reward.

Negative reinforcements involve the removal of an unfavorable events or outcomes after the display of a behavior. In these situations, a response is strengthened by the removal of something considered unpleasant.

ReinforcementsThe effectiveness of the reinforcement is

directly correlated to the schedule in which it is presented.Continuous reinforcement: reinforcement is

presented after every occurrence.Partial reinforcements: reward is only

presented occasionally, based on a scheduleFixed interval: pertaining to time.Fixed ratio: pertaining to number of responses.

PunishmentsPunishment, on the other hand, is the

presentation of an adverse event or outcome that causes a decrease in the behavior it follows. There are two kinds of punishment:Positive punishment, sometimes referred to as

punishment by application, involves the presentation of an unfavorable event or outcome in order to weaken the response it follows.

Negative punishment, also known as punishment by removal, occurs when an favorable event or outcome is removed after a behavior occurs.

Theory Application Theory Examples:Scenario 1:Your father gives you a credit

card at the end of your first year in college because you did so well. As a result, your grades continue to get better in your second year.

Answer:The credit card is a positive reinforcement because it is given and it increases the behavior.

Scenario 2: A lion in a circus learns to stand up on a chair and jump through a hoop to receive a food treat.

Answer: The food treat is a positive reinforcement because it is given and it increases the behavior.

Theory Application Cont.Scenario 3: A professor has a policy of

exempting students from the final exam if they maintain perfect attendance during the quarter. His students’ attendance increases dramatically.

Answer: The exemption from the final exam is a negative reinforcement because something is taken away that increases the behavior (attendance).

A Case Study Employing Operant Conditioning to Reduce Stress of Capture for Red-Bellied Tamarins (Saguinus labiatus).

Visual Representations of Theory

Memory Tools

Operant conditioning focuses on one’s behavior and the way one “operates”

“Operate” sounds like Operant

Works Cited B. F. Skinner (2013). The Biography Channel website. Retrieved 04:04, Jul

16, 2013, from http://www.biography.com/people/bf-skinner-9485671. Buggey, T. (2007, Summer). Storyboard for Ivan's morning routine.

Diagram. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 9(3), 151. Retrieved July 14, 2013, from Academic Search Premier database.

Cherry, Kendra (2013). B.F. Skinner Biography (1904-1990). Retrieved fromhttp://psychology.about.com/od/profilesofmajorthinkers/p/bio_skiner.htm

Cherry, Kendra (2013). Skinner Box Definition. Retrieved fromhttp://psychology.about.com/od/sindex/g/def_skinnerbox.htm

Good Therapy.org (2013). B.F. Skinner (1904-1990). Retrieved fromhttp://www.goodtherapy.org/famous-psychologists/bf-skinner.html

McLeod, S. A. (2007). B.F. Skinner Operant Conditioning - Simply Psychology. Retrieved fromhttp://www.simplypsychology.org/operant conditioning.html

Shteingart, H., Neiman, T., & Loewenstein, Y. (2013). The Role of First Impression in Operant Learning. Journal Of Experimental Psychology. General, 142(2).