Lec 7 Skinner and behaviorism part 5

What is emotion as a byproduct of behavior?

Emotions don’t cause behavior—they are the result of past behaviors and their consequences.

What is the key idea for emotions as a byproduct of behavior?

We feel emotions based on how past behaviors were reinforced or punished.

What is an example of emotion as a byproduct of behavior?

If playing basketball was fun and rewarding, you might say "I love basketball" because you were reinforced by playing it

What is positive reinforcement and love (i love this)

When a behavior is rewarding, you develop a positive emotion toward it.

What is the key idea of positive reinforcement and love (I love this)

Love comes from repeated reinforced behaviors.

What is an example of positive reinforcement and love (i love this)

If every time you eat chocolate, you feel good, you’ll say "I love chocolate" because it was a rewarding experience.

What is punishment and hate (I hate this)?

When a behavior leads to a negative consequence, you develop a negative emotion toward it.

What is the key idea of punishment and hate (I hate this)?

Hate is linked to punishment after behavior.

What is an example of punishment and hate (I hate this)?

If you got food poisoning after eating sushi, you might say "I hate sushi" because you associate it with a bad experience.

What does the divorce rate after disabling/disfiguring accident mean?

When reinforcement changes, emotions and relationships can change too.

What is the key idea of divorce rate after a disabling/disfiguring accident?

A relationship is maintained by reinforcements (love, attraction, shared activities). If a major life event removes those reinforcements, emotions shift.

What is an example of divorce rate after a disabling/disfiguring accident?

After a disabling accident, the relationship dynamics change, leading some couples to emotionally detach and divorce.

What is the mothering instinct?

The strong urge to care for a child is reinforced by emotional and social rewards.

What is the key idea of the mothering instinct?

Caring behaviors are reinforced over time, making mothers feel an instinctive love.

What is an example of mothering instinct?

A mother feels deep affection when holding her baby because she is rewarded by the baby’s response (smiling, bonding).

what is B.F. skinner’s idea regarding behaviorism?

All behavior (including thoughts and emotions) is learned through reinforcement (rewards) and punishment—not free will.

What is an example of behaviorism according to B.F. Skinner?

If a child gets candy every time they say "please," they will keep saying it because it’s reinforced.

What if B.F. skinner is right?

If a child gets candy every time they say "please," they will keep saying it because it’s reinforced.

What is the key idea for if B.F. skinner is right?

Our choices are not really "choices"—they are conditioned responses to our environment.

What is an example of free will being an illusion if B.F. Skinner is right?

You didn’t “choose” to study—you study because in the past, good grades (reward) reinforced studying.

What are the implications of behaviorism?

If behaviorism is true, it changes how we see learning, society, and personal responsibility.

Key ideas and examples of implications of behaviorism:

- Education: Schools should use positive reinforcement (rewards) to encourage learning instead of punishments.
- Criminal Justice: Punishing criminals might not work—reinforcing positive behaviors could be more effective.
- Free Will Debate: If behavior is shaped by reinforcement, do we really have free will, or are we just responding to past conditioning?

what is society without free will?

If we are only reacting to reinforcement, our entire sense of choice is an illusion

Whar is the key idea of society without free will?

Everything we do is shaped by our past, not conscious decision-making.

What is an example of society without free will?

You like social media because likes and comments reinforce your usage, not because you "chose" to enjoy it.

why does behaviorism works well with children and specific behaviors?

Behaviorism is effective for shaping simple, clear behaviors, especially in children, because they respond well to rewards and punishments.

What is the key idea of behaviorism working well with children and specific behaviors?

Children learn through reinforcement (rewards/punishments), making behaviorism a powerful tool for teaching them.

What is an example of behaviorism working well with children and specific behaviors?

A child gets a sticker for doing homework, making them more likely to do it again.

Behaviorism explains some but not all behavior what does this mean?

Behaviorism can explain learned behaviors but struggles with complex thoughts, emotions, and creativity.

What is the key idea fro behaviorism explaining some but not all behavior?

It works for habit formation and conditioning but doesn’t fully explain personal experiences or deep decision-making.

What is an example of behaviorism explaining some but not all behavior?

It explains why we stop touching a hot stove (punishment) but not why we feel inspired to write poetry.

What is criticism: behaviorism is reductionist?

Critics argue that behaviorism oversimplifies humans by ignoring emotions, free will, and inner thoughts.

What is the key idea that behaviorism is reductionist?

It reduces humans to just stimulus-response machines, ignoring deeper aspects of personality.

What is an example of criticism: behaviorism is reductionist?

Behaviorism can explain why someone avoids dogs after being bitten, but it doesn’t explain why someone chooses to adopt a dog out of compassion.

What is Viktor Frankl’s Critique: The cat and the butter?

Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor and psychologist, argued that behaviorism ignores human meaning and choice.

What is an example of the cat and butter from Viktor Frankl’s critique?

• If you put butter on a cat’s back, it won’t land on its feet OR the buttered side—it will just be confused.

• Point? Humans are more complex than simple cause-effect behaviors.

What was the letter from a student (critique of behaviorism?)

A famous student wrote to Skinner, criticizing behaviorism as too limited for understanding human experience.

What is the key idea of from the letter from a student (critique of behaviorism)

Behaviorism may explain simple actions but doesn’t capture personal struggles, emotions, or deeper motivations.

What is an example from a letter from a student (critique of behaviorism)?

A student struggling with grief, passion, or existential questions can’t be understood just by looking at reinforcement history.