Behaviorism is a branch of psychology that, as its name indicates, is based on the observation of behavior and its analysis. Behaviorism emerged as a contrast to psychoanalysis and aimed to provide a scientific basis, demonstrable and measurable to psychology. Pioneers such as Watson and Pavlov began to carry out experiments with various animals that laid the foundations of behaviorism and conditioning.
A few years later, psychologist Burrhus Frederic Skinner added a great discovery to this branch of psychology: operant conditioning. You want to learn BF Skinner’s theory of behaviorism and conditioning? Then we recommend that you continue reading this Psychology-Online article.
BF Skinner’s behavioral theory
Burrhus Frederic Skinner (1904-1990) was an important American psychologist, inventor, and writer recognized throughout the world for bringing scientific rigor to psychology. In 1938 he wrote the first study of him called “The behavior of organisms: an experimental analysis“and he put on paper everything he studied until, in 1974, he summarized his work in a famous work called “About Behaviorism“
In this book, Skinner explains the foundations of behavior analysis and how his experiments with animals can be extrapolated to psychological therapy in humans. The author explains to us how psychology can be understood from an operational point of view and how our behavior affects our thoughts.
Watson and Pavlov’s simple conditioning
As we have mentioned previously, behavioral psychology was born years before Skinner published his studies. Two great pioneers of this branch of psychology with John Watson and Ivan Pavlov They studied what we know today as simple conditioning.
Simple conditioning is a procedure by which we can induce a reflex or response in an animal (and in some cases, a person). With experiments such as Pavlov’s dogs or Watson’s induction of a phobia in a child, the aim was to demonstrate that the human mind could be measured, observed and modified through behavior.
If you want to know more about the beginnings of behaviorism, we recommend reading the following article: .
behavioral psychology
The four basic principles of behavioral psychology are:
- Psychology is a sciencetherefore it will use an empirical and demonstrable experimental methodology.
- This methodology is characterized by using variables that can be measured (example: measuring anxiety by the number of beats per minute)
- The results of experiments carried out in a laboratory can extrapolate to real life
- Behavior is learnedthere is no form of nativism (total rejection of other branches of psychology)
The contribution of Skinner’s conditioning to this discipline is very important, he added the principle of reinforcement, the concept of reward and defined operant conditioning, all through experiments such as the famous Skinner box.
In the following image we can see the process of classical conditioning, where a salivation response to a dog (Pavlov’s experiment).
Skinner’s box
Officially called the “operant conditioning chamber,” Skinner’s box It is one of the best-known inventions in the history of psychology. It was created with the aim of demonstrating that the behavior of an animal (in the first place, a rat was used) could be induced and modified by external stimuli. The box is one of the pillars on which the already known Skinner behaviorism.
Parts of the box
The box had the following items:
- two lights
- a speaker
- A button
- Electrified floor (in some cases)
- food dispenser
How the Skinner box works
- A was introduced rat inside the box (usually he was deprived of food before so that his motivation to feed was greater)
- The rat experiments in its new environment until I discovered the button and pressed it. Automatically a unit of food came out (pellet) from the dispenser after pressing the button
- The rat, motivated to get more food, modified its behavior and quickly learned to press the button to receive food (behavior-stimulus association and positive reinforcement)
- Conditioning could also occur by omission of a negative stimulus (negative reinforcement). In this case, the rat was placed inside the box with the floor electrified; if it pressed the button, the current stopped passing through the floor. In this way, the rat learned to press the button to stop feeling pain.
Skinner and operant conditioning
As we have seen, operant conditioning is somewhat more complicated than the simple conditioning of Watson and Pavlov. In this case, the association is not between a stimulus and a reflex but rather between a stimulus, behavior and reinforcement.
That is, in the case of operant conditioning, learning about what happens after the behavior is required. For example, in the case of the Skinner box, the rat learns who after pressing the button receives a prize.
Positive and negative reinforcement
Since behaviorism is based on measuring behaviors, everything that happens in Skinner’s conditioning is carefully analyzed and categorized. Therefore, we can distinguish two types of reinforcement in BF Skinner’s theory of behaviorism and operant conditioning:
- positive reinforcementan element that acts as a reward, usually satisfies some basic need or generates a pleasurable response.
- Negative reinforcementan element that generates a response of pain, displeasure or discomfort, this factor acts as a punishment.
We can find examples of operant conditioning in Our day to day. For example, we make an effort to study because we have learned to receive a reward later (good grades and recognition) or, we take a medication to avoid a headache, just as the rat presses a button to avoid the pain of the electrified floor.
Criticisms of Skinner’s behaviorism
Despite being a measurable and empirical model, itBF Skinner’s theory of behaviorism and conditioning It is quite reductionist to talk about the human mind.
The main criticism of behaviorism is the lack of inner vision and simplicity of his model, it is hardly credible that the human psyche can be measured and understood through experiments carried out on other animals.
Therefore, today it is proposed the cognitive-behavioral model, which unites the cognitive branch (thought) with behaviorism. If you want to know more about the therapeutic application of this new model, we recommend you read the following article about .
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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References
- The Behavior of Organisms: An Experimental Analysis, 1938.
- Skinner, B.F., & Ardila, R. (1977). About behaviorism. Fontanella.