Skinner

Skinner

1. Skinner created the theory of operant conditioning.

   • He believed that adults could reinforce wanted behaviour, and discourage any unwanted behaviour.
     • This created the term 'positive reinforcement'. This is when parents or early years practitioners encourage children to complete positive acts.
   • Operant behaviour
     • Skinner discovered that the behaviours were dependent on what happened after the response.
     • Skinner studied operant conditioning by conducting experiments on animals
       • He placed the animals in a box which was named 'Skinner's Box'
         • Skinner placed rats in the box and rewarded them with a treat when they pressed a lever.
   • His theory helps to develop children's language because from a young age, children will babble and coo, they will often receive a positive response, like a smile or cooing back, which allows children to see that babbling and cooing is a positive action.
     • If the child is not given any positive reinforcement when they are in their babbling and cooing stage, then it will make the child less likely to prosper in their language development
       • Skinner placed cats in a maze, and if they were able to escape, then they received a reward. This then encouraged the cats to use the skills they had previously gained when they were in the maze again, to receive a treat again.