Burrhus Frederick Skinner (1904-1990)

Burrhus Frederic Skinner was born March 20, 1904, in the small Pennsylvania town of Susquehanna. In
1945, he became the chairman of the psychology department at Indiana University. August 18, 1990,
B. F. Skinner died of leukemia after becoming perhaps the most famous psychologist since Sigmund
Freud.
Operant Conditioning
Learning through positive and negative reinforcement: a form of learning that takes
place when an instance of spontaneous behavior is either reinforced by a reward or discouraged by
punishment.
Dependent variables (measures of learning):
Extinction rate- how rapidly an animal can be trained to a new operant behavior as a function of
reinforcement.
Rate of response- Rate of response is a measure of correct responses throughout a testing schedule
including the times when reinforcement is not provided after a correct response.
Acquisition rate- The rate at which an operant response disappears following the withdrawal of
reinforcement.
Types of reinforcement:
Generalized reinforcement Secondary reinforcement Primary reinforcementReinforcers always follow a behavior and could be pleasant or unpleasant (noxious) and could be
added to or removed from a situation.
Add to a Situation after a Response:
Pleasant = Positive Reinforcement- Reward.
Noxious = Punishment
Remove from a Situation after a Response:
Noxious = Negative Reinforcement
Pleasant = Punishment
Reward or Stimulus: in behavioral psychology, a reward or stimulus used to encourage an action in
order to increase the probability that it will be repeated. A reinforcer is anything that strengthens the
desired response. It could be verbal praise, a good grade or a feeling of increased accomplishment or
satisfaction.
Extinction of the operant behavior:
A behavior no longer followed by the reinforcing stimulus results in a decreased probability of
that behavior occurring in the future.
Schedules of reinforcement:
a) Variable interval reinforcement
b) Intermittent reinforcement
c) Fixed ratio reinforcement
d) Variable (random) fixed reinforcement
e) Fixed interval reinforcement
f) Continuous Reinforcement
Shaping also known as the method of successive approximations, it involves first reinforcing a
behavior only indefinitely similar to the one desired.
Aversive stimulus is the opposite of a reinforcing stimulus, something we might find unpleasant or
painful.
Punishment is a consequence that causes a behavior to occur with less frequency.

Positive punishment denotes the addition of a stimulus or increase in the intensity of a stimulus that
aversive.
1. Positive reinforcement (Reinforcement) occurs when a behavior (response) is followed by a
stimulus (commonly seen as pleasant) that increases the frequency of that behavior.
2. Negative reinforcement (Escape) occurs when a behavior (response) is followed by the
removal of a stimulus (commonly seen as unpleasant) thereby increasing that behavior's
frequency.
3. Positive punishment (Punishment) (also called "Punishment by contingent stimulation")
occurs when a behavior (response) is followed by a stimulus, such as introducing a shock or
loud noise, resulting in a decrease in that behavior.
4. Negative punishment (Penalty) (also called "Punishment by contingent withdrawal") occurs
when a behavior (response) is followed by the removal of a stimulus, such as taking away a
child's toy following an undesired behavior, resulting in a decrease in that behavior.