operant conditioning bf skinner and thorndike.pptx

This presentation discusses B.F. Skinner’s operant conditioning and Edward Thorndike’s Law of Effect, focusing on how reinforcement, punishment, and repetition shape individual personality traits and behavioral patterns.

1. Operant Conditioning B. F. Skinner ( 1904-1990 ) Radical Behaviorism Process : Voluntary behaviors strengthened/weakened by consequences (Feist & Feist, 2008; Feldman, 2015). Differs from classical: Focuses on active environmental interaction . Personality View Not internal traits , but unique reinforcement history (Schultz & Schultz, 2017).

2. Operant Conditioning – Reinforcement and Punishment Reinforcement: Boosts Behavior Positive : Add desirable (e.g., praise → repetition). Negative : Remove aversive (e.g., stop nagging → compliance). Shapes stable patterns (e.g., social rewards → outgoing traits; Feist et al., 2021). Punishment: Suppresses Behavior Positive : Add unpleasant; Negative : Remove desirable. Risk : Causes anxiety; less effective long-term (Feldman, 2015)

3. Operant Conditioning – Shaping and Schedules Shaping & Schedules Shaping : Reinforce approximations to build skills (e.g., shy student: brief talk → confident speech; Engler, 2014). Schedules : Intermittent (variable-ratio) → persistent traits like compulsiveness (Feist et al., 2021). Key Insight: Personality is the product of an individual's unique reinforcement history... observable patterns shaped by environmental influences." — Adapted from Schultz & Schultz (2017) & Engler (2014)

4. Law of Effect Thorndike ( 1874-1949) Principle Law of Effect : Satisfying outcomes strengthen behaviors; discomfort weakens them (Thorndike, 1927). Experiments: Cats escaped puzzle boxes via reinforced actions (Chance, 1999). Personality Insight Accumulated learned reactions , not innate traits (Feldman, 2015).

5. Thorndike’s - Supporting Laws Additional Laws Readiness : Optimal learning when prepared. Exercise : Repetition strengthens; disuse weakens (e.g., cooperative practice → collaborative habits ). Exa mple s Diligence from study rewards; confidence from sports success. Key Insight: Personality consists of learned reactions... positive outcomes repeated, frustrating ones diminished over time."— Adapted from Thorndike (1927) & Feldman (2015)