B.F. Skinner

B.F. Skinner

1. Behavioral techniques

   • Shaping
     • Reinforcing successive approximations of the desired response
   • Chaining
     • One response produces or alters the variables that control another response
   • Discrimination learning
     • Everybody learn to behave in ways appropiate to a changing situation
   • Generalization
     • We respond in the same way to similar stimulis

2. The causes of behavior are external to the individual

   • Operant conditioning: selection of behavior through its consequences
     • Rate of responding: frequency with which a behavior is repeated
       • Base rate: rate of responding before any reinforcement
       • Reinforcement
         • increase the rate of responding
           • Positive reinforcer
           • Negative reinforcer
       • Punishment
         • Reduce the rate of responding
           • Extinction: consist in stop reforcing it