1. Operant Conditioning: B.F. Skinner
By Jesse Mason
and Claire Watton

2. Behaviorism John B. Watson
Psychology can only be accurately studied through the examination and analysis of observable behavior
Re: Psychology as a Science
Basis for Skinner’s Theory

3. B.F. Skinner

4. B.F. Skinner Biography
Burrhus Frederic Skinner - born on March 20th 1904 in Susquehanna; a small town in Pennsylvania
Rough childhood
Goal to become a writer - started writing poetry and short stories
Wrote for a school paper at Hamilton College, NY where he received a BA in English
Attracted by the work Ivan Pavlov on conditions, reflexes, and behaviorism
Masters in Psychology and doctorate at Harvard University in 1931.
Moved to Minneapolis - wife Yvonne Blue, had two daughters together.

5. Theories of B.F. Skinner
Repeat acts that lead to favorable responses, suppress acts that lead to unfavorable outcomes
Only effective way to solve individual and social problems is to manipulate the environment to encourage the desirable behavior
Operant Conditioning:
form of learning in which freely emitted acts become either more or less probable depending on the consequences they produce
Demonstrates this with his invention of the “Skinner Box”

6. Skinner’s Theories
Reinforcer: any consequence of an act that increases the probability that the act will reoccur
Positive reinforcer: any stimulus whose presence increases the probability that the act will reoccur
Negative reinforcer: any stimulus whose termination increases the probability that the act will reoccur
Punisher: any consequence of an act that suppresses the response and decreases the probability of it reoccurring

7. Skinner’s Box

8. Skinner’s Assumptions
Skinner followed two assumptions:
1. Assumption of Universal Determinism
2. Assumption of Environmentalism

10. ACTIVITY!

11. In Relation to Sara Porter’s Case and General Classroom Application
Provide positive reinforcements for paying attention during class, and arriving on time.