1. By Lyla Kolman

2.   Full name – Burrhus Frederic Skinner  1904 – 1990  Celebrated Psychologist from Pennsylvania  Inventions for psychology experiments  Theory of operant conditioning  Verbal Behavior (1957) Skinner Himself

3.  Behaviorism  All human behavior is a result of the human response to environmental stimuli.  Can be studied and predicted.  Three central characteristics: 1.Observation – only observable behaviors are important 2.Environmentalism – the stimulus of environment is the main factor that determines behavior. 3.Learning – humans are taught and shaped by their responses to environment.

4.  Classical Conditioning  Aspect of Behaviorism  Associationism – humans will feel a positive response to things they associate with good experiences, and a negative response to things they associate with bad experiences  Pavlov’s Dog:

5.  Verbal Behavior Theory  Skinner believed language functioned the same as any other trait – it was conditioned and learned  A conversation is a “behavior chain”(1)  Each sentence provides a conditional stimulus which is responded to by the following sentence  Four types of Verbal Behavior: 1.Echoic 2.Mands/Tact 3.Interverbals 4.Autoclitic (1) http://www3.niu.edu/acad/psych/Millis/History/2003/cogrev_skinner.htm http://www3.niu.edu/acad/psych/Millis/History/2003/cogrev_skinner.htm

6.  Echoic Verbal Behavior  Primary form of verbal behavior  Includes repeated utterances Can you say “mommy”? Mommy!

7.  Mands & Tact  An abbreviation of “Demands”  Short directions, utterances driven by need  Not driven by need  Disclose information Stop Go I need… Wait

8.  Interverbals  Used as interaction during dialogue  No information disclosed Please Thank you

9.  Autoclitic  Internal speech/thought  According to Skinner, follows the same rules as verbal speech  Influences verbal behavior Thoughts are private. Jeeez. That’s why they’re internal.i need to type more of this. Tok is cooollll.

10.  Skinner & Whorf Can these two theories coexist? Language is a learned, conditioned behavior Our thoughts are fully determined by language Things to consider: human development, culture and knowledge

11.  http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/skinner.html  http://www.skewsme.com/behavior/baby_tender_ b.jpg http://www.skewsme.com/behavior/baby_tender_ b.jpg  http://www3.niu.edu/acad/psych/Millis/History/200 3/cogrev_skinner.htm  http://www.chomsky.info/articles/1967----.htm http://www.chomsky.info/articles/1967----.htm  http://www3.niu.edu/acad/psych/Millis/History/200 3/cogrev_skinner.htm http://www3.niu.edu/acad/psych/Millis/History/200 3/cogrev_skinner.htm  The Person Bibliography

12.  Images  Clip art  www.skewsme.com/behavior/baby_tender_b.jpg  http://www.harvardsquarelibrary.org/stafford/rs_ skinner.htm http://www.harvardsquarelibrary.org/stafford/rs_ skinner.htm  http://www.xtimeline.com/evt/view.aspx?id=4105 54 http://www.xtimeline.com/evt/view.aspx?id=4105 54