Chapter 12: B. F. Skinner: Reinforcement Theory

A comprehensive set of flashcards summarizing key concepts related to B. F. Skinner's Reinforcement Theory.

Behavior can be controlled by its consequences, specifically by the reinforcers that follow the behavior.

What is the fundamental idea behind Skinner's approach to behavior?

Respondent behavior is a response made to a specific stimulus and is usually reflexive, while operant behavior is emitted voluntarily and operates on the environment.

What is the difference between respondent behavior and operant behavior?

The procedure by which a change in the consequences of a response will affect the rate at which the response occurs.

What does Skinner mean by the term 'operant conditioning'?

Fixed Interval, Fixed Ratio, Variable Interval, Variable Ratio.

What are the four types of reinforcement schedules identified by Skinner?

A person being paid weekly regardless of the number of items produced.

Give an example of fixed-interval reinforcement.

It is an experimental apparatus used to study operant conditioning by observing how animals can be trained to perform certain behaviors for rewards.

What is the significance of the Skinner Box in Skinner's research?

A complex behavior is learned through successive reinforcement of approximations toward the desired behavior.

What was the result of Skinner's shaping technique?

Behavior that is reinforced accidentally and thus may be repeated in similar situations, even without a functional relationship with the reinforcement.

What is 'superstitious behavior' as described by Skinner?

Personality is viewed as a collection or pattern of operant behaviors rather than an internal characteristic or cause of behavior.

How does Skinner's theory view the concept of personality?

The ability to alter the impact of external stimuli and reinforcers on behavior through techniques such as stimulus avoidance, self-administered satiation, aversive stimulation, and self-reinforcement.

What is self-control according to Skinner?

A behavior-modification technique where individuals are given tokens as reinforcement for desired behaviors, which can later be exchanged for privileges or goods.

What is a token economy and how is it used?

He believed that data on the average performance of groups provides little valuable information compared to detailed studies of single subjects.

Why does Skinner prefer studying individual subjects rather than groups?

It involves evaluating the frequency of a behavior, the situation in which it occurs, and the reinforcers associated with that behavior.

What is meant by 'functional analysis' in Skinner's assessment methods?

Punishment is the application of an aversive stimulus to decrease a behavior, while negative reinforcement is the removal of an aversive stimulus to increase a behavior.

How does Skinner define punishment and negative reinforcement?

Skinner's research advanced the field of behaviorism and introduced practical applications for modifying behavior in various settings.

What impact did Skinner's work have on psychology?

Critics argue that his approach is overly deterministic, ignores mental processes, and oversimplifies complex human behaviors.

What criticisms exist against Skinner's behaviorism?

Clinical psychology, education, business settings, and behavior modification programs.

In what areas has Skinner's operant conditioning theory been applied?

Skinner believed that people are primarily shaped by learning and external variables rather than innate factors.

What was Skinner's stance on the nature-nurture debate?

By altering the environmental reinforcers and using operant conditioning techniques.

How does Skinner suggest we can change behavior?