Skinner’s Operant Conditioning

• • Skinner
  • Some behaviours too complex for CC
  • Sometimes our actions associated with consequences
• Reinforcement = increased likelihood of behaviour

  • Positive reinforcement -> reward of something pleasant given for behaviour = behaviour more likely to be repeated
  • Negative reinforcement = reward of something unpleasant removed for behaviour = behaviour more likely to be repeated
• Punishment = reduced likelihood/extinction of behaviour

  • Positive punishment = punishment given by introduction of something negative to prevent behaviour
  • Negative punishment = punishment given by removal of something pleasant to prevent behaviour
  • Behaviour made less likely through association with unpleasant consequence
• OC key research: Skinner’s experiments on rats

  • Skinner box
  • C1: positive reinforcement
  • C2: negative reinforcement
  • C3: positive punishment
• OC A&E point 1: weight of evidence + explanatory power to support theory

  • Skinner’s findings showed rats could learn to push/avoid lever to either gain food or avoid being shocked/a loud noise
  • Show actions become associated with rewarding consequences = encourages repetition of behaviour
  • This is what theory predicts will occur
• OC A&E point 2: Skinner’s research has problem of extrapolation

  • Subjects = rats + pigeons = significant physiological differences between them + humans
  • OC’s principles may not apply to humans (more advanced cognitive abilities + higher order-thinking)
  • Bandura + Walter’s 1963 findings = cognitive processes play a part in the way people act -> may not be the same with animals
  • Theory is overly reductionist
• OC A&E point 3: real-life application to support theory

  • Zoe Kravitz in YSL Black Opium ad