1 Theory Paper: B.F. Skinner Leticia Malavazzi Southeastern University PSYC 2133: Theories of Personality Dr. Gloria Morrow November 5, 2023 2 Introduction B.F Skinner (1904-1990) focused his theory on behavioral psychology and how it plays a vital role in shaping one’s personality. As a kid, Skinner was taught to fear God, the police, and what people think (Schultz & Schultz, 2017, pg. 318). This strict upbringing and fear of punishment strongly influenced Skinner’s theory of behaviorism since he saw the effects it had on his personality. When Skinner went to Harvard to study psychology in 1928 he conducted various experiments using animals like rats and pigeons to demonstrate how their behavior could be modified through reinforcement and conditioning. Reinforcement is what Skinner said was the basis of behavior, “whoever controls the reinforcers has the power to control human behavior” (Schultz & Schultz, 2017, pg. 321). Positive reinforcement can encourage a desired behavior by offering a reward or incentive to the individual. On the other hand, negative reinforcement removes an unpleasant stimulus to encourage a desired behavior. Moreover, conditioning can also play a role in modifying behavior. Classical conditioning involves associating a neutral stimulus with a desired behavior, while operant conditioning involves modifying behavior through positive and negative reinforcement. Personality Development According to Skinner, personality develops throughout life and can be changed in response to the environment or consequences of behavior. Skinner’s theory of reinforcement had been strongly influenced by Ivan Pavlov, a Russian psychologist who studied classical conditioning and reinforcement. Pavlov's experiment with dogs discovered that a conditioned response cannot be established in the absence of reinforcement, the reinforcement strengthens it and increases the likelihood of the response happening again (Schultz & Schultz, 2017). Skinner eventually made his experiment called “The Skinner Box” which focused on operant 3 conditioning. The experiment involved placing hungry rats in a confined space containing a lever that, when pressed, triggered the release of food into a trough. Upon accidentally pressing the lever and receiving food as a reward (or "reinforcer"), the rat learned to press the lever more frequently, as the behavior elicited was consistently reinforced. This experiment demonstrated the power of positive reinforcement as a means of conditioning behavior in animals. Skinner believed that in the same way, most human behavior is learned through operant conditioning (Schultz & Schultz, 2017). As an application of operant conditioning, Skinner also created the token economy which are behavior modification technique in which tokens are awarded for desired behaviors (Schultz & Schultz, 2017). The Token Economy is effective because it conditions the person to work toward the desired behavior without using punishments. “The token-economy patients were not punished for failing to behave appropriately. Instead, they were reinforced when their behavior changed in positive ways”(Schultz & Schultz, 2017). This was very important for Skinner because he did not believe in punishment, therefore his theory is fully focused on reinforcements. “Skinner said that punishment was ineffective in changing behavior from undesirable to desirable or from abnormal to normal. Positive reinforcement administered for desirable behaviors is much more effective than punishment”(Schultz & Schultz, 2017). Skinner, after observing how the reinforcements affected the behavior of the rat, studied reinforcement schedules which are "patterns or rates of providing or withholding reinforcements" (Schultz & Schultz, 2017). These schedules include Fixed-interval, Fixed-ratio, Variable-interval, and Variable-ratio. Fixed Interval provides reinforcement after a fixed amount of time has passed, regardless of the behavior exhibited, while Fixed Ratio involves reinforcing a fixed number of responses that have been exhibited. Moreover, variable Interval schedules provide reinforcements after a variable amount of time has passed, with the average time being kept 4 relatively constant and lastly Variable ratio reinforces a variable number of responses that have been exhibited with the average number being kept relatively constant. “Skinner’s research on reinforcement schedules shows that they are effective for controlling, modifying, and shaping behavior”(Schultz & Schultz, 2017). Questions about Human Nature B.F. Skinner emphasized the influence of nurture on behavior. “Instead of saying that a man behaves because of the consequences which are to follow his behavior, we simply say that he behaves because of the consequences which have followed similar behavior in the past”(Skinner, 1953). He also focused on equilibrium and growth. Skinner held a positive view of human nature, however, he had a deterministic approach to how the environment controls a person's behavior. He believed humans are unique and that both past and present determine one’s personality. “Because we are shaped by experience—and we all have different experiences, particularly in childhood—no two people will behave in precisely the same way”(Schultz & Schultz, 2017). Application Skinner’s operant behavior findings have been especially important for teaching. “He urged educators to improve teaching by using what is known about human behavior and learning”(Sparzo, n.d.). His research on operant conditioning has shown to be especially effective in the learning process of babies. “As the infant grows, the positively reinforced behaviors, those of which the parents approve, will persist, whereas those of which the parents disapprove will be extinguished or discontinued”(Schultz & Schultz, 2017). By employing this approach, parents and caregivers can help infants acquire new skills and behaviors more quickly and effectively, setting them on a path toward lifelong learning and growth. In the classroom, 5 teachers can also use reinforcements such as the token economy to get the children to pay attention and get the expected behavior from the students. By receiving tokens for desirable behaviors, students are encouraged to continue exhibiting those same behaviors in the future. Additionally, token economies can help to establish clear expectations and boundaries for students, as they know what behaviors are expected of them to earn tokens. Overall, the use of positive reinforcement strategies like the token economy can be an effective tool for promoting desired behaviors and maintaining a positive classroom environment. Conclusion Skinner’s theory intrigues me because it provides ways to teach kids in a way that is rewarding for them but also gets the desired behavior. As someone who worked with kids for a long time and plans to work with kids in the future, it is interesting to see the effectiveness of his research in real life. Using reinforcement is a great way to teach without punishment despite thinking that punishment is important in some occasions for a child to learn. I also appreciate Skinner’s view on human uniqueness and that everyone comes from different backgrounds that affect their personalities and behaviors. However, I do not entirely agree with Skinner’s extreme deterministic view that all behavior is caused by external factors and consequences. I believe, like Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers, that people have free will that it gives them the ability to change our personalities. In conclusion, Skinner's personality theory emphasizes the importance of environmental factors in shaping a person's behavior and personality. By focusing on the role of reinforcement and punishment in shaping behavior, Skinner's theory highlights the potential for individuals to change and adapt over time, as their experiences and environments evolve. This perspective has important implications for fields such as education and psychology, where understanding the 6 complex interplay between individuals and their environments is essential for promoting positive outcomes. 7 Reference Schultz, D. P., & Schultz, S. E. (2017). Theories of personality (11th ed.). Cengage Learning. Sparzo, F. J. (n.d.). B. F. Skinner’s Contributions to Education: A Retrospective Appreciation. https://www.proquest.com/openview/3b8d326da9731e414cca7b09f6beb036/1?pq-origsit e=gscholar&cbl=1816594https://www.proquest.com/openview/3b8d326da9731e414cca7 b09f6beb036/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=1816594 Skinner, B. F. (1953). Science And Human Behavior.
