Non-Relationship: B.F. Skinner

Question 1

Skinners World View

Answer 1

Magic vs. Common Sense

Question 2

The Scientific Method

Answer 2

• Science has cured, religion has not.
• Psychology is guided by scientific methodology.
• Scientific studies require replication.

Question 3

Skinners Major Concepts

Answer 3

• Explanatory Fiction
• Prediction and Control
• Operant Conditioning

Question 4

Explanatory Fictions

Answer 4

• Terms used by non behaviorists to describe the causes of human behavior when they are un aware of the true (real) causes.
• Hypothesis that we aren’t free is essential to the scientific method. Everything we do is controllable.

Ex) Concept of freedom of choice. (westerns especially)

Question 5

Prediction and Control

Answer 5

• Science predicts.
• To the extent that relevant conditions can be controlled the future can be controlled.
• If we can control external conditions, we can control behavior.
• Schools (ex: grades), Prisons, Mental Hospitals, and delinquents are all products of behavior modification.

Question 6

Operant Conditioning

Answer 6

Reinforcing behavior

• Weaken behavior with aversive action
  ex) Oregon Pedos get shock treatment.
• No difference between rats and humans, we both look for rewards and reinforcement.
• Distinct from Classical Conditioning, which is reliant on past experiences.

Question 7

Skinner Box

Answer 7

Introduces a hungry pigeon to a box must peck disc to release food. Release food to draw in, wait for bird to put the action and reward together.

Question 8

Continuous Reinforcement Schedule

Answer 8

Continues behavior

Question 9

Fixed Interval Schedule

Answer 9

Give food to bird every couple seconds to encourage pecking.

Question 10

Ratio Reinforcement

Answer 10

Every Fourth peck give food

Question 11

Variable Ratio Reinforcement Schedule

Answer 11

Ex) Slot Machines, results based on how many quarters put in, not time.

Question 12

Non Contingent Reinforcements

Answer 12

Accidentally reinforced behavior. Sometimes this kind of reinforcement makes people superstitious. Something happens once or twice, and it gets labeled as a constant truth.

Ex) An individual prays at a tree, the prayer comes true, there then is a new sacredness associated with it.

• Religion and faith is our customary way to provide proof of our happenings.

Question 13

Religious Institutions and Control

Answer 13

Traditional religion uses aversive reinforcement to teach people. They Terrify people with stories of the devil, sin, etc. to promote faith.

Question 14

Waldon II

Answer 14

Utopian novel about place controlled by psychologists. It showed how to produce people who are happy, obedient, trouble free, and it isn’t done through reward.

• No smoking or drinking
• No need for formal religion, far better behaved than any religious group.
• Religion is childish, neurotic, aversive, and punishing.