SKINNER (1948) SUPERSTITION IN PIGEONS

AIM

Skinner was interested in how reinforcement led to behaviour in animals.

PROCEDURE

• 8 pigeons starved 75% of their natural weight.

every 15 seconds, a food dispenser would swing into the cage for 5 seconds

● When the food was about to appear, the pigeons started showing strange behaviours such as turning anticlockwise or swaying motions.

Skinner concluded the pigeons were repeating whatever behaviour they had been doing when the reinforcement was first given

● Because the food kept reappearing, this senseless behaviour was strengthened.

ERGO

This is like a superstition when humans imagine that by doing something senseless (ex: crossing their fingers) they can make something pleasant happen.

● This is a method in which we can alter someone's voluntary behaviour

circulus

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