Skinner theory. An approach.
October 26th 2007 04:20
Skinner is considered the successor of Watson who said once that psychology was not a study of the mind but more a science of behavior.
Watson insisted that psychology must focus on “the study of observable conditions” and be objective.
Watson was extreme in his beliefs, by saying for example that he could turn any healthy child into a lawyer, an artist or a thief, just by providing the right environment.
He neglected genetic influences and was considered an extreme environmentalist.
Skinner is known for his radical behaviorism. He emphasized the effects of the environment on human behavior, while also taking in consideration the genetic heritage.
Skinner was a deterministic and didn’t believe in free will.
He didn’t allowed feelings and thoughts to enter into his explanations of observable behaviors but acknowledged them, and argued that feelings and thoughts could be analyzed as effects but not considered as causes of human actions.
Skinner opened the door to the investigation of all the influences that the physical and social environments have on human behavior.
He stressed the idea that the environment acts on the genetic endowment of individuals to select certain behaviors. “By using the obtainable information, we can improve ourselves and society”.
Skinner focused on a very important aspect of human life, which is the “reinforcement”.
It seems so simple that we simply forget and often ignore it.
It is a significant element that helps managing our own behaviors, raising our children, getting along with others, improving education and most aspects of life in general.
Skinner talked about positive and negative reinforcement.
For example, a child is having temper tantrums and his parents maintained the attention each time they occur, called continuous reinforcement, with of course no physical problem involved. Then the tantrums are more like to stop soon after the parents start ignoring them, called extinction.
However, if the tantrums are maintained intermittently, sometimes attention, sometimes not, it will be then harder for the parents to stop them.
Persistent behaviors often result from intermittent reinforcement.
“Our genetic endowments give us the neurophysiological means to feel and think, and the environment shapes the specifics of our feelings and thoughts.”
Watson insisted that psychology must focus on “the study of observable conditions” and be objective.
Watson was extreme in his beliefs, by saying for example that he could turn any healthy child into a lawyer, an artist or a thief, just by providing the right environment.
He neglected genetic influences and was considered an extreme environmentalist.
Skinner is known for his radical behaviorism. He emphasized the effects of the environment on human behavior, while also taking in consideration the genetic heritage.
He didn’t allowed feelings and thoughts to enter into his explanations of observable behaviors but acknowledged them, and argued that feelings and thoughts could be analyzed as effects but not considered as causes of human actions.
Skinner opened the door to the investigation of all the influences that the physical and social environments have on human behavior.
He stressed the idea that the environment acts on the genetic endowment of individuals to select certain behaviors. “By using the obtainable information, we can improve ourselves and society”.
Skinner focused on a very important aspect of human life, which is the “reinforcement”.
It seems so simple that we simply forget and often ignore it.
It is a significant element that helps managing our own behaviors, raising our children, getting along with others, improving education and most aspects of life in general.
Skinner talked about positive and negative reinforcement.
For example, a child is having temper tantrums and his parents maintained the attention each time they occur, called continuous reinforcement, with of course no physical problem involved. Then the tantrums are more like to stop soon after the parents start ignoring them, called extinction.
Persistent behaviors often result from intermittent reinforcement.
“Our genetic endowments give us the neurophysiological means to feel and think, and the environment shapes the specifics of our feelings and thoughts.”
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