Skinners Theory of Operant Conditioning in Relation to the Writers Own Psychology - Research Paper Example

Operant Conditioning There are different schools of psychology that exist to explain human behavior. These theories have helped the different institutions in society explain why people act a certain way. It is important to know these theories so help can be given to people that show behavior which is different from the norm. One of the notable psychologists in this field is B.F. Skinner. This paper will attempt to describe Skinner’s theory of operant conditioning in relation to the writer’s own psychology. Moreover, this paper will attempt to compare the writer’s own psychology with that of another person. When people discuss psychology, one of the most influential names spoken aloud in the conversation is B.F. Skinner’s. The psychologist had studied human behavior. Skinner believed that the behavior of a person can be modified. This change will depend on the reinforcement or punishment the person will receive. (Ouellette & Derscheid, 2011, p. 47) The reinforcement is given to make the individual continue good behavior. The punishment is given to make the individual stop bad behavior. Skinner proposed that the behavior of an individual is influenced by his or her environment. For example, a child cries. Somebody picks him up. This happens all the time. The child will always cry because it knows somebody will always pick him up. On the other hand, if nobody picks the child up, the child will not cry all the time. The child will learn to stop crying to get another’s attention. Skinner said there were two kinds of reinforcement and two kinds of punishments. (Ouellette & Derscheid, 2011, p. 48) According to Skinner, good behavior can be encouraged using reinforcement. This reinforcement may be negative or positive. For example, a child gets good grades at school. The parent limits the child’s time to play video games and watch television. So, the child has more time to use for studying. This way the child will continue to get good grades. Here, reinforcement is giving the child more time to study. But, it is negative because the parent removed something – additional play time. Good behavior can also be encouraged by giving positive reinforcement. This is the usual way. For example, the child has good grades. The parents always give the child a reward if the child’s test scores are high. The reinforcement is the reward. It is positive because the parents give it to their child, not take it away. The other side of operant conditioning is punishment. This is used for bad behavior. Skinner said that if an individual behaves badly this can be changed. If an individual does something bad, a punishment will be given to him. The individual will remember stop his or her bad behavior. Again, there are two kinds of punishments: negative and positive. Negative punishment is almost the same with negative reinforcement because something is taken away from the individual. For example, if the child does not have good grades, the parents limit the child’s play time. The punishment is less play time. It is negative because the parents get play time from the child. Positive punishment is almost the same with positive reinforcement because something is given to the individual. For example, the child does not have good grades. The child receives a warning letter from the school to make his grades better. The punishment is the warning letter. It is positive because something is given to the child, not taken away. B. F. Skinner’s operant conditioning theory is very influential in many researches about human behavior. But, his popular theory does not tell much about Skinner’s own psychology. Skinner had a brother who died at 16 because of cerebral hemorrhage. As an only child, there was much attention on him. (Moloney, 2009) He did not like this. This attention did not improve his good behavior or decrease his bad behavior. It may have made him be more organized. Supposedly, he created things so he can conduct experiments in an organized way. (Bjork, 1997, p. 2) As a child, Skinner loved to experiment and invent things. (Moloney, 2009) He created a Skinner box to help him understand operant behavior. The Skinner box involved observing a rat, a lever and pellets. The rat received pellets if he pressed the lever the right number of times. I think my behavior can be explained by B. F. Skinner’s theory of operant conditioning. As a child, my father and mother taught us to act properly. I should be respectful to our elders and polite to other people. I should share my toys and my food with others. When I was young, I remember my father spanking me with his slipper or belt. He would always do this when I do something wrong. I also remember my mother talking to me very strongly. Sometimes I could not watch television or go outside. I remember all these happened when I did something wrong. Before, I hated my parents because of this. I think they were doing something bad. I did not understand them. But, sometimes my parents would give me a present. Or, we would go to my favorite ice cream store after school. At school, my teacher would put a sticker on my hand or my notebook if I answered well. I also got star stamps on the back of my hand sometimes for being nice in class. I remember that my parents’ smiles would be very big if my teacher told them I was nice and helpful. After their meeting, we would go out and they would ask me what I would like to buy. It is the way I am now still. I am scared to get a low score so I study well. The low score is my positive punishment. I try to study well and get good grades. I like to see high grades on my papers and tests. This is my positive reinforcement. When I fail a test or get a low score, I want to do well on the next test. So, I try not to have a busy schedule. I only spend a little time on extra activities. I change my schedule so my study time will be more. This is my negative punishment. I think it is not bad for me to behave like this. I think many people also do well because they expect the reward. I know other people who are like me. They prepare for tests. So, they stop doing other things. Sometimes, I also behave with negative reinforcement. I want to have money enough to buy something. I save. So, I can continue to save, I do not buy some things I like. I think this is my negative reinforcement so I can save more. I can compare my behavior with Britney Spears. I think Britney Spears’ behavior it is not easy to understand her behavior with operant conditioning. When younger, she received punishment and reinforcement but she continued to behave not right. Britney Spears became a superstar at a very young age. She became a part of the Mickey Mouse Club in 1992. After six years, she received a platinum award for her single “Hit Me Baby One More Time.” (Fox, 2008) She continued to be successful. She received the title Pop Princess and won many awards. Millions of girls liked her. She was their idol. The awards and the fans were her positive reinforcement. She should keep singing well. But, Britney started to behave badly. Britney married her friend in Las Vegas. Then, the wedding was annulled after about 2 days. Then, Britney married her back-up dancer, Kevin Federline in 2004 but they divorced after 3 years and 2 children. (Fox, 2008) During this time and after the divorce, Britney was always on the news. Her behavior was very, very uncertain. After some time, she went into a rehabilitation center. She was placed on conservatorship. (Fox, 2008) The negative media should be Britney’s positive and negative punishment. Bad media, the rehabilitation and the court dates should affect her singing career. This was her positive punishment. She could lose her singing career and money. This was her negative reinforcement. According to Skinner, negative behavior may be influenced by positive punishment. With Britney, the punishment and reinforcement did not really make her change her behavior. The singer admitted she had hit “rock bottom” and found was very grateful for the rehabilitation center. (Fox, 2008) Supposedly, Britney had a mental disability. The singer was suffering from ADHD or attention deficit hyperactive disorder. People with ADHD are always more active than normal. Even at a young age, Britney wanted to something else. She was reported to be the most successful and controversial female singers of the 21st century. (Rolling, 2008) She is always dancing, singing, writing songs and making videos. After being a mother, she is doing that, too. But, Britney enjoys this because her condition looks for ways to be active. ADHD can affect children and continue as children grown older. People with ADHD cannot stay focused or pay attention. It is also hard for them to control their behavior. (National, 2008) Britney was famous. But, her positive or negative behavior was not affected by punishment or reinforcement. She behaved this way because she had ADHD. The disorder made her too active. For Britney, this energy was used in writing songs, dancing, recording, playing with her kids, etc. Her uncontrollable behavior was also because of her disorder. She always needed to do something. References: Bjork, D. (1997 August). B.F. Skinner: A Life. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. Fox News. (2008, July 31). Britney Spears’ Biography. Retrieved from http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,195283,00.html Moloney, S. (2009). Skinner, B(urrhs) F(rederic) (Fred). Retrieved from http://pabook.libraries.psu.edu/palitmap/bios/Skinner__BF.html Ouellette, S. E. and Derscheid, L. E. (2011). Theories of Human Development: Links to Understanding How People with Disabilities Grow and Develop. In A. Sales. (Ed.), Human Growth and Development Considerations in Rehabilitation Counseling. (pp. 26 - 32), Linn Creek, MO: Aspen Professional Services. National Institute of Mental Health. (2008). Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Retrieved from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder/complete-index.shtml Rolling Stone. (2008). Britney Spears: Biography: Rolling Stone. Retrieved from http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/britney-spears/biography Read More