B.F. Skinner
B.F. Skinner was a well-known American psychologist. He was and still is a very influential psychologist who focused on behaviorism concepts. These concepts included both positive and negative reinforcement. Skinner was also known for the operant conditioning concept. Negative reinforcement was also noted in his research including punishment.
In the operant conditioning model, Skinner felt that people learn their behaviors. These behaviors are learned based on whether they experienced positive or negative results. The way that Skinner determined that this was true was by observing the behaviors of rats and pigeons. He would use Skinner boxes that would isolate these specimens. An example of how he came up with the operant conditioning method is by depriving the rats of food. The rats had a lever placed in their cage that would release a pellet of food if pushed. Since the rat did not know this would happen, it was basically trial and error that resulted in a positive result for the rat. Eventually the rat would learn this behavior from receiving food. In this example when the rat received his food he was being reinforced and the lever would be known as the operant.
Skinner also had the idea of superstitious behaviors in animals. He felt that if an animal were placed in the Skinner box where food was dispensed every five minutes no matter what the animal was doing, this would develop a superstitious behavior in the animal. The animal would then repeat that behavior in thoughts that what they are doing is the reason why they are receiving food.
In the operant conditioning model, Skinner felt that people learn their behaviors. These behaviors are learned based on whether they experienced positive or negative results. The way that Skinner determined that this was true was by observing the behaviors of rats and pigeons. He would use Skinner boxes that would isolate these specimens. An example of how he came up with the operant conditioning method is by depriving the rats of food. The rats had a lever placed in their cage that would release a pellet of food if pushed. Since the rat did not know this would happen, it was basically trial and error that resulted in a positive result for the rat. Eventually the rat would learn this behavior from receiving food. In this example when the rat received his food he was being reinforced and the lever would be known as the operant.
Skinner also had the idea of superstitious behaviors in animals. He felt that if an animal were placed in the Skinner box where food was dispensed every five minutes no matter what the animal was doing, this would develop a superstitious behavior in the animal. The animal would then repeat that behavior in thoughts that what they are doing is the reason why they are receiving food.