Skinner's Behaviorism

Hi-
I just finished writing an essay for my psychology class in regard three articles I have to read about Frederick Skinner the "father of behaviorism", and I could not help but to think a lot about social control and behavior. I have the feeling that sociologists might know about Skinner's theories since they seem to address some of the issues that sociologists are interested in: reward and punishment, social control and human behavior. So, I decided to post my essay here on my Soc 112 file.



SKINNER'S BEHAVIORISM


Abstract
The purpose of this essay is to first, analyze the following three articles:  “I am not a dangerous man. It is my ideas that are said to be dangerous…” by George C. Homans, sociology professor at Harvard University, Can Psychology be a science of mind? By B. F. Skinner, and B.F. Skinner: Father, grandfather, behavior modifier, by Julie Vargas, one of Skinner’s two daughters; and second, to explain Skinner’s behavioral approach to psychological issues, demonstrating how Skinner’s everyday behavior was a reflection of his own theoretical views.




Skinner’s ideas
On A Conversation with B.F. Skinner, psychologist by Homans, B.F. Skinner explained his theoretical views on human behavior, especially in regards to reward and punishment. According to Skinner, “human behavior is determined by genetic endowment, personal history, and present circumstances” (Homans, 1977, p.54).  In other words, since people are born with predetermined behavior, the use of reward and punishment is useless. However, in order for a society to function, the use of reward and punishment should be implemented as “substitute for the changes we should like to make in the conditions that are really responsible for behavior” (Homans, 1977, p.54).
Skinner believed that individual behavior could be redesigned with the use of positive reinforcement, which could be applied in different institutions dealing with human behavior: schools, prisons, and psychiatric hospitals to name a few. In regard education, he used the grading system as an example. Skinner stated that students “moving from secondary schools to Harvard, have shifted from a system of quick results from studying to one of deferred results” (Homans, 1977, p.55). Skinner also believed that it was very critical to pay attention to children from one to five years of age, and emphasized the advantages of raising children within group settings where they could develop positive relationships with other kids.
  
“Can Psychology Be a Science of Mind?” by B. F. Skinner, is an account of the history of behavior within the field of psychology. He stated “many psychologists, like the philosophers before them, have looked inside themselves for explanation of their behavior” (Skinner, 1990, p. 241).  Thus, cognitive psychologists have tried really hard to get rid of behaviorism within the field, for it’s link to Darwin’s ideas of natural selection. Skinner reminded us that psychologists, like philosophers, have turned to introspection as a way to explain for their own behavior. However, this method did not provide the answer they were seeking for. Skinner criticized the dualistic approach within cognitive psychologists in regards the mind, and how they disregard the importance that behaviorism plays within the field of psychology.  According to Skinner, in operant conditioning, behavior makes sense through natural selection due to the process of reinforcement, which can be seen through “modeling, telling and teaching, [which] are the functions of the social environment called cultures” (Skinner, 1990, p.243). An example of negative reinforcement according to Skinner can be seen within the government and religions that use punishment as a form of social control. Therefore, operant behavior belongs to humans, and only by understanding the important role of natural selection within behaviorism, it will make sense its place within the field of psychology.

Skinner’s Private Life

Skinner’s daily routine was heavily influenced by his theories, as one can see through his daughter Julie Vargas’ article B.F. Skinner: father, grandfather, behavior modifier.  Skinner would conduct his daily routine around promoting positive reinforcement. He would achieve this by assigning areas within his house to serve a purpose. That meant that his basement was divided within two areas, which purpose would be for entertaining and work. He had also child proofed the house, so when his granddaughters visited him they would not hurt themselves, and at the same time avoid being punished for breaking something. He developed a system for his own daughters as well during their childhood in which he programmed the music player to shut off after they stopped listening to it, so they would not be reprehended.
Skinner believed that a good positive reinforcement to avoid mental decay was to write everyday, taking several breaks. He also administered self-reinforcement in his work by listening to music in his office.

I will end my analysis of Skinner’s ideas with a quote that summarizes the Skinnerian’s thought: “Skinner’s mechanistic, analytic, and deterministic natural science approach, reinforced by the results of his conditioning experiments, persuaded many behavioral psychologists that with an awareness of environmental conditions and the application of positive reinforcement, human behavior could be guided, modified, and shaped” (Schultz & Schultz, 2008).










References
Homans, G.C. (1977, July/August).  A Conversation with B.F. Skinner, psychologist.  Harvard Magazine.
Skinner, B. F. (1990). “Can Psychology Be a Science of Mind?”.  American Psychologist, 45:1206-1210.  
Schultz, D. P., & Scultz, S.E. (2008).  A History of Modern Psychology. Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth.
Vargas, J. (1972, January/February). B.F. Skinner: father, grandfather, behavior modifier. Human Behavior.

*11/30/09. So, this is an update about this paper. My professor graded this paper, and I got 7.5 out 10 points. I guess I missinderstood some concept of Begaviorism by Skinner:-)