Behavioral or Social Learning Approach
 behaviors are influenced by rewards,
punishments, and models by means
of imitation.
 we act the way we do because of our
environment, not because of our
personal choice or direction.
 2nd force or movement in
psychology next to psychoanalytic
approach.
Law of Effect – “Edward Thorndike”
- If the result is satisfying the act will
be repeated. If the result is unsatisfying the
act will not be repeated.
- in every action there is an effect.
John B. Watson – “Father of Behaviorism
School of Thought”
Baby Albert Experiment
Before Conditioning
Stimulus
White Rat
Noise
Response
No fear
Fear
During Conditioning (Repeated pairing)
White Rat-Noise- FEAR
After Conditioning
White Rat- FEAR
Personality was the end product of our
habit system. –John B. Watson
“BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS”
Burrhus Frederick Skinner
Operant Conditioning – rewards and
punishment
Experiment: Skinner’s Box
In the box, there is push a button and food
pellets inside a food dispenser. Then, he put
hungry rat inside the box and since its
hungry-the rat was restless and was moving
around the box. Accidentally, the rat pushed
the button, then food pellet appears from
the food dispenser. And since, the rat was
hungry he repeatedly pushed the button to
get food pellets.
Procedures of Operant Conditioning
1. Positive reinforcement/reward –
behavior is followed by a favorable
stimulus.
*may binibigay na gusto mo
2. Negative reinforcement/reward –
behavior is followed by removal of
the unfavorable stimulus.
*may tinatanggal na hindi mo gusto
3. Positive punishment – behavior is
followed by unfavorable stimulus.
*may binibigay na hindi mo gusto.
4. Negative punishment – behavior is
followed by the removal of favorable
stimulus.
*may tinatanggal na gusto mo.
Schedules of Reinforcement
- simply a rule that states under what
conditions a reinforcer will be delivered.
a. Continuous – reinforcement/reward
is given after every single desired
behavior.
b. Intermittent - reinforcement is given
after some behavior but never after
each one.
1. Fixed Ratio – specific reward
after a specific accomplishment.
Example: A factory worker is paid
PhP20.00 for every 12 shirt
collars sewed.
2. Fixed Interval – there is a specific
time to get a reward.
Example: Salaried employees
who receive their paycheck every
week.
3. Variable Ratio – a reward will be
given but do not know when.
Example: Slot Machines
4. Variable Interval – no specific
time to get a reward
Example: You are waiting for the
bus to arrive. After 5 minutes, the
bus does arrive. Then another
bus arrives after 10 minutes, then
the next after 15 minutes.
Shaping – increasing the value of the reward,
so that good behavior will achieved.
*If the present reward is no longer
working.
Types of Reinforcers
1. Primary
Reinforcers
–
reinforcements that contribute to
our survial.
Example: water, air, shelter.
2. Conditioned Reinforcers – a primary
reinforcers but it was conditioned.
3. Generalized
Reinforcers
associated with more than one
primary reinforcer.
Example:
attention,
approval,
affection
Forces of Shaping Human Behavior
a. Natural Selection - our behavior is
shaped by the contingencies of
survival.
b. Cultural Evolution – behavior was
shaped by the present culture.
c. Individual’s Personal history of
Reinforcement - reinforcement
which strengthens the behavior and
rewards the person.
Controlling agent – people who can control
ones behavior.
“The way we behave is because of the control
of the society” –Skinner
Methods of Social Control
1. Operant Conditioning – positive and
negative reinforcement/reward and
punishment.
application
of
describing
contingencies.
2. Describing Contingencies – using
language to inform people of the
consequences of the behavior.
- Explaining the consequences.
3. Deprivation and Satiation –
techniques that increase the
likehood that people will behave the
certain way.
a. Deprivation – decrease of
stimuli.
b. Satiation – increase of the
stimuli.
4. Physical Restraint – example is the
jailing of criminals.
retraining movement –
limiting the behavior.
“Too much social and self-control result to
unhealthy personality.” –Skinner’s View of
Unhealthy Personality
Counteracting Strategies
a. Scape – people withdraw from the
controlling agent.
b. Revolt – counter-attacking the
controlling agent.
Indirect revolt – displacement but it
should be connected to the
controlling agent.
c. Passive resistance – being stubborn.
- resist what the
controlling agent is
telling you.