Division and Diversity Veronica Benson Cunningham
Grand Canyon University: EDU 131N
September 16, 2012
The Behavioral theory that I will discuss is behavioral psychologist B. F. Skinner (1901- 1990) who sought to understand why our voluntary actions are influenced by what happens to us immediately after we perform an act. In the 1960’s his ideas were used to develop behavior modifications techniques which are still used in present day. He is best noted for his research on operant conditioning and negative reinforcements. He developed the “cumulative recorder,” which showed rates of responding as a sloped line, as well as the skinner box ( tested a rat using a lever to get pleasure from positive reinforcement). The device (“cumulative recorder”) determined that behavior did not depend on the preceding stimulus as previously thought, but that behaviors were dependent upon what happens after the response, called the operant behavior. These principles can be witnessed in teaching, child rearing, and promoting the development of healthy social relationships. Skinner’s theory of reinforcing stimulus states that an act will be repeated if it receives a reward (reinforcement). We may repeatedly try to get this attention even more to receive this reinforcing stimulus. He felt that a person receives this stimulus only immediately after a particular act occurred. Although Skinner never used the term Behavioral modification, this term is attached to his name and it is widely used today to shape student behavior in the classroom. His theory of constant reinforcement, awarded to a student each time they exhibit the desired behavior aids the learning process. Intermittent reinforcement is not sequential and is sufficient to get the desired behavior once a regimen has been established. The thought here
