The Behaviourist Perspective

Classical Conditioning (Pavlov)

Operant Conditioning (Skinner)

Todays Lesson: The Behaviourist Perspective

By the end of this lesson you will be able to…

Tell me what Operant Conditioning is…

Apply at least ONE example

Evaluate the Behaviourist Perspective for Operant Conditioning

B.F Skinner studied how animals can learn from the consequences of their actions…. He specifically

focussed on Reinforcement

Reinforcement strengthens the likelihood of behaviour re-

occurring.

We know Skinner did this on a rat but we can apply it to humans….

How does reinforcement effect out behaviour?

Operant Conditioning

Positive ReinforcementThis is something desirable is obtained to make behaviour happen again… to behave the same way again in order to receive the reward.

Example?

Negative ReinforcementThis is something undesirable is removed when the desirable behaviour happens. It is the removal of something unpleasant…

Example?

PunishmentThis is when something undesirable is received after a behaviour to make it stop. Punishment is used in an attempt to decrease a behaviour

Example?

Positive & Negative Reinforcement

Operant Conditioning

Positive Reinforcement, Negative reinforcement, or punishment?

A child gets £5 for washing the car.

Positive Reinforcement

Operant Conditioning

Positive Reinforcement, Negative reinforcement, or punishment?

A parent shouts at a child for crossing the street without looking.

Punishment

Operant Conditioning

Positive Reinforcement, Negative reinforcement, or punishment?

A salesman stops hassling his customer when he agrees to buy upgrades to a product.

Negative reinforcement

Operant Conditioning

Positive Reinforcement, Negative reinforcement, or punishment?

Your teacher phones home when you don’t complete two pieces of homework.

Punishment

Operant Conditioning

Positive Reinforcement, Negative reinforcement, or punishment?

Your teacher asks your parents to nag you until you complete your homework.

Negative reinforcement

Operant Conditioning

Positive Reinforcement, Negative reinforcement, or punishment?

You receive a prize for finishing 2nd in a race.

Positive Reinforcement

Operant Conditioning

This was investigated by a psychologist called B.F Skinner.

He trained rats to press a lever using both types of reinforcement.

Operant Conditioning

Operant Conditioning

He used positive reinforcement to train the rat, by giving the rat a pellet of food each time it pressed the lever.

This caused the rat to learn that the lever = food, so it continued to press the lever.

Operant Conditioning

He used negative reinforcement to train the rat, by running an electric current through the floor of the cage.

When the rat pressed the lever, the electric shock would stop.

This taught the rat that lever = getting rid of something bad.

Operant Conditioning

Operant Conditioning

This study shows that behaviour is learnt through operant conditioning

i.e.: that reinforcement (positively or negatively) makes behaviour become repeated.

Explain how stopping you going out for a week for

missing your 10:30 curfew is a punishment & NOT negative

reinforcement?

Using positive reinforcement explain why people may

continue to starve themselves when they have

an eating disorder…?

Operant Conditioning in

Health & Social Care….

How could we use NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT in health &

social care settings?

Applying the Behaviourist Perspective…

Q. Give an everyday example of how staff in an early years nursery could use positive reinforcement with a child who behaves well or shares their toys.

Applying the Behaviourist Perspective…

Q. Why would child psychologist’s say that negative reinforcement is better than

punishment?

The Behaviourist Perspective

One strength of this assumption is that it has been developed to treat atypical behaviour.

For example in treatment of schizophrenia, patients are given positive reinforcement for appropriate/good behaviour.

- This is called token economy. M1

The Behaviourist Perspective

But this means that behaviour could be UNLEARNT through token economy….

M1

The Behaviourist Perspective

Another strength of this approach is that it highlights the importance of the environment on our behaviour

M1

The Behaviourist Perspective One limitation however is

that other researchers show learning can occur without reinforcement.

For example Social Learning Theory shows that people can learn

behaviours just by watching and copying role models. M1

The Behaviourist Perspective

This assumption is also criticised for being too deterministic. This means that it believes humans have no free will, and their behaviour is controlled by the environment.

What about nature?M1

The Behaviourist Perspective

Skinner used rats….. So?

M1

The Behaviourist Perspective

Not all behaviour is learnt or unlearnt. Some people may be aggressive because they have high levels of testosterone (nature). Positive reinforcement would not be effective in changing this behaviour.M1

Behaviourist Perspective Case Study: Derek - Operant Conditioning

 Derek is 45 years old and attends a Day Centre for adults with learning difficulties. The staff

at the centre find his behaviour challenging and unacceptable. Derek often shouts out and

demands attention and he refuses to comply with the simplest of instructions that all clients

are expected to follow.

Describe how the staff at the Day Centre use operant conditioning to modify and change

Derek’s behaviour.