‘‘The theory of B.F. skinner is based upon the idea that leaning is a function of change in overt behavior. Changes in behavior are a result of an individuals response to events that occur in the environment.’’ (tip.psychology.org/skinner.htm.)
Neo-behaviourism- this is a newer development and an extension of behaviourism. The best known example is social.
Learning theory which was an attempt by Albert Bandura to reformulate learning theory to include a role for cognitive factors. The principle of social learning theory is that we learn through indirect rewards, as well as through direct rewards.
‘‘Albert Bandura argued that individuals, especially children learn aggressive responses from observing others, either personally or through the media and environment. He stated that many individuals believed that aggression will produce reinforcements. These reinforcements can formulate into reduction of tension, gaining financial rewards or gaining the praise of others, or building self esteem ().
Pavlov experimented with dogs, studying the relationship between salivation and digestion. By applying stimuli to animals in a variety of ways, using sound, visual and tactile stimulation he was able or makes animals salivate weather they were in presence of food or not, a phenomenon he called the conditioned reflex. Pavlov’s research a conditional reflexes greatly influenced not only science but also popular culture the phrase Pavlov’s dog’’ is often used to describe someone who merely reacts to a situation rather than using critical thinking.
B.F. Skinner (1904-1990) is credited with the theory of ‘‘operant conditioning.’’ Skinner developed an apparatus which allowed him to observe and record the frequency of an animal behaviour (now called the Skinner box). Skinner found that when a hungry rat was placed in the box, it would engage in random behaviour. Eventually, purely by accident, the rat would press the lever. At this point, the rat was automatically reinforced with a food pellet. Skinner discovered that if food was present the level was pressed more frequently. However, if a mild electric current, was given to the rat when the level was pressed, level-pressing decreased significantly. He recognized that he could influence the animal’s behaviour. Skinner defined a reinforcement as anything that increases the frequency of response.
Positive out comes to children behaviour.
Negative outcomes to children behaviour.
Behaviourist use an ABC approach to understanding behaviour.
- A stands for antecedents; what is happening just before it occurs.
- B stands for behaviour; what the person is actually doing.
- C stands for consequences what happens next.
Positive reinforcement- is if a child has something that they really like for example a favourite program toy, teddy, and blanket, anything they enjoy. If negative behaviour sets in the positive reinforcement towards the children .E.g. if they do their reading well or number work well they receive a gold star. If the child had negative behaviour, the teacher has a warning card system and they won’t be able to complete fun activities.
In general skinner believed that positive reinforcement was more effective than punishment can create feeling of anger or fear.
Skinner also made a distinction between primary and secondary reinforces. A primary rein force. A primary rein forcer is any reinforce which satisfies an innate, biological need E.g. food.
Secondary reinforces are learned rather than innate E.g. praise, money.
There are a number of characteristics associated with operant conditioning.
Extinction- causes previously learned response to stop occurring. In operant conditioning extinction occur when a response is no longer followed by reinforce.
Generalisation- is if a person is reinforced for responding to a particular stimulus, they are likely to make the same response to a similar stimulus.
Discrimination- involves teaching an organism to tell the difference to very similar stimuli. E.g. the researcher could present a circle and an oval shape to a pigeon. Reinforcement is given when the pigeon pecks at the circle and never the oval.
Schedules of reinforcement- Skinner found that rein forcers can be presented according to different schedules can be time period. He identified four types of partial reinforcement, fixed interval, and variable interval, fixed ratio, variable ratio.
Shaping- which is a way of speeding up learning. Although operant conditioning is based on animal research, there are a number of practical applications for human beings, most behaviour responses and decrease the frequency of desirable responses and decease the frequency of undesirable responses. It has been used to control problem behaviours such as aggression and disorders such as phobias. It is based on the assumption that what is leaned can be unlearned.
There is no doubt that conditioning both classical and operant is a fundamental part of psychological explanations and of great benefits to the health and social care perspective.
Behaviourist approaches are used by a wide range of practitioners e.g. clinical and used by a wide range of practitioners e.g. clinical and educational psychologists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapies, teaching and learning assistants, nurses and care workers.
Social skills training is also related to learning theory and may be the only way to skills, such as teaching autistic child some basic self-care. Broad best (1961) argued that behaviourism is the best method of rational advance in psychology.
However there is negative criticisms that are leveled at the behavioural approach. It suggests that criticism is not true of social learning as a more active participant in their experiences.
The behavioural approach is also reductionism reducing complex behaviour to stimulus - response links. However, these weaknesses are also strengths because they enable behaviourism to be highly appropriate for experimental research, which is needed in health and social care.
