The Effects Of Reinforcement And Punishment On Individuals

Effects of Reinforcement and Punishment One would be surprised at the behavior modifications and ability that Operant Conditioning imposes on individuals. Operant Conditioning, one of the fundamental concepts in behavioral psychology, is a method of learning that occurs through rewards and punishments for behavior. In the 1920’s B.F Skinner, known as â€Å"the Father of Operant Conditioning†, believed that the best way to understand behavior is to look at the causes of an action and its consequences. He believed you could change or continue one’s behavior with certain exercises. As a result, he founded the principles of positive/negative reinforcement and positive/negative punishment. In psychology the goal of punishment is to decrease a behavior, while reinforcement is to increase a behavior. This is the basis for what is known today as behavioral psychology. Starting with positive and negative reinforcement, B.F Skinner concluded in that negative reinforcement a response or behavior is strengthened by stopping, removing or avoiding a negative outcome. In positive reinforcement, the method is used to modify behavior. Positive reinforcement is an effective way to change a behavior without implementing unpleasant methods. Positive reinforcement is mostly used for children but it can also be used on pets and even adults in some cases. Some examples of positive reinforcement are like saying â€Å"good job!† or â€Å"wow I’m very proud of you!† Sometimes just giving someone a compliment onShow MoreRelatedConditioning Procedures in Shaping Childrens Behaviour1582 Words   |  7 Pagespuzzle box. The cat become less random and more efficient until it open the latch without hesitation after several random attempt. Thorndike called this relation between a response and its consequences the law of effect. (Martin et.al, 2006). Although Thorndike discovered the law of effect, B.F Skinner was the one who brought the study of opera nt conditioning into the lab and devised objective methods for studying human behaviour. He invented the operant chamber which is also known as the SkinnerRead MoreCorporal Punishment and the Effects of Its Usage757 Words   |  3 PagesCorporal Punishment and the effects of its usage Corporal punishment is the ability to make physical contact as a form of punishment for reprimanding ones behavior. Corporal punishment versus positive reinforcement while they both serve their purpose corporal punishment is known to be more effective. The most common form of disciplining has always been either a spanking, corporal punishment has been dated all the way back to biblical times. Now the corporal punishment that occurred during biblicalRead MoreThe Theory Of Criminal Behavior955 Words   |  4 Pagescriminal behavior and delinquency the best would be the Differential Reinforcement Theory, reviewed by Robert Burgess and Ronald Akers after it was criticized by C.R. Jeffery. Burgess and Akers argued against Sutherland’s work by using what he had used already and adding operant conditioning and modeling/condition in order to explain criminal behavior more clearly. They offered seven propositions to summarize the Differential Reinforcement Theory, which was a justifi cation of Sutherland’s none principlesRead MoreSkinner Behavioral Analysis Summary972 Words   |  4 Pagesfinally the actual desired behavior. (Feist, J. and Roberts pg. 456) Reinforcement – Skinner believed reinforcement had two effects, strengthening the behavior and rewarding the subject and that any behavior that increases ability to for survival tends to be strengthened. However not every reinforcement is pleasing or enjoyable, the job you do to receive the paycheck might be boring or physically taxing. Positive reinforcement – or application of a positive external stimulus, produces a beneficialRead MoreEssay on Human Beahavior1512 Words   |  7 PagesFrederic Skinner, popularly known as B.F. Skinner for obvious reason, the master of in human behavior, a teacher as well as parents can now have an idea as to the know how’s in shaping human behavior. Shaping human behavior means leading a certain individual towards performing repeatedly a certain conduct bit by bit. Bit by bit since you cannot expect a lazy person to do his assignment habitually just by saying so. You can’t look forward seeing a chain smoker quit smoking overnight. Nor an alcoholicRead MoreReinforcement Theory Vs. Operant Conditioning1513 Words   |  7 PagesThere has been concern if the effects of certain types of reinforcement (such as positive and negative) can effectively change an individual’s behavior. There is evidence to suggest that certain types of positive and negative reinf orcement can motivate an individual far beyond his potential, while punishment, on the other hand, is completely different from negative reinforcement, but it is very often associated with it. Both forms of reinforcement are designed to have a desired behavior learned andRead MoreMost Effective Form of Instrumental Conditioning in Teaching Someone An Exercise Routine1477 Words   |  6 Pagescontrast the concepts of positive and negative reinforcement as related to learning situation, and explain the role of reward and punishment in learning an exercise routine. Finally, the paper will explain which form of instrumental conditioning would be most effective in teaching someone an exercise routine. Instrumental conditioning is the learning procedure that believes that â€Å"the organism must act in a certain way before it is reinforced; that is, reinforcement is contingent on the organism’s behavior†Read MoreHow Behavioral Treatments Are Based On Basic Principles And Re search1476 Words   |  6 PagesSelf-injurious behaviour (SIB) is a debilitating problem that affects individuals with developmental delays (Singh, Dawson, Gregory, 1980). SIB entails a range of chronic behaviours which lead to physical harm that occur frequently within a sustained period, e.g., include self-biting, self-hitting, and self-pinching (Favell et al., 1982). The adverse impact of SIB escalates as these individuals approach adulthood, with increasingly prevalent problems such as physical damage, social seclusion, andRead MoreThe Effect Of Punishment On Children Essay1591 Words   |  7 Pages1. Punishment is defined as reduction in the strength of a behavior because of its consequences. For example, your child misses their curfew one night and you punish them by saying they can’t go out for two weeks, it is more likely then the child will not miss their curfew again because of the negative consequence and therefore reducing or decreasing the behavior of missing one’s curfew. Skinner’s view in 1938 was that punishment suppresses behavior but only for a short period of time. He cameRead MoreSkinner And His Contribution On Behaviorism And Operant Conditioning1500 Words   |  6 Pagesstudied by many psychologists for many years now. B.F. Skinner was known as one of the most controversial intellectual figures of the late twentieth century who introduced behavior analysis and the idea of reinforcement (Myers, 2010). Skinner developed much of his work based from the law of effect by Edward Thorndike, who was also known as a philosopher. This research paper will focus on B.F. Skinner and his contribution on behaviorism and operant conditioning. This paper will provide an in-depth explanation