B F Skinners Verbal Behavior Theory By Lyla
B. F Skinner’s Verbal Behavior Theory By Lyla Kolman
Skinner Himself Full name – Burrhus Frederic Skinner 1904 – 1990 Celebrated Psychologist from Pennsylvania Inventions for psychology experiments Theory of operant conditioning Verbal Behavior (1957)
Behaviorism All human behavior is a result of the human response to environmental stimuli. Can be studied and predicted. Three central characteristics: 1. Observation – only observable behaviors are important 2. Environmentalism – the stimulus of environment is the main factor that determines behavior. 3. Learning – humans are taught and shaped by their responses to environment.
Classical Conditioning Aspect of Behaviorism Associationism – humans will feel a positive response to things they associate with good experiences, and a negative response to things they associate with bad experiences Pavlov’s Dog:
Verbal Behavior Theory Skinner believed language functioned the same as any other trait – it was conditioned and learned A conversation is a “behavior chain”(1) Each sentence provides a conditional stimulus which is responded to by the following sentence Four types of Verbal Behavior: 1. 2. 3. 4. Echoic Mands/Tact Interverbals Autoclitic (1) http: //www 3. niu. edu/acad/psych/Millis/History/2003/cogrev_skinner. htm
Echoic Verbal Behavior Primary form of verbal behavior Includes repeated utterances Can you say “mommy”? Mommy!
Mands & Tact An abbreviation of “Demands” Short directions, utterances driven by need Not driven by need Disclose information Wait Stop I need… Go
Interverbals Used as interaction during dialogue No information disclosed Thank you Please
Autoclitic Internal speech/thought According to Skinner, follows the same rules as verbal speech Influences verbal behavior Thoughts are private. Jeeez. That’s why they’re internal. i need to type more of this. Tok is cooollll.
Skinner & Whorf Can these two theories coexist? Language is a learned, conditioned behavior Our thoughts are fully determined by language Things to consider: human development, culture and knowledge
Bibliography http: //webspace. ship. edu/cgboer/skinner. html http: //www. skewsme. com/behavior/baby_tender_b. jp g http: //www 3. niu. edu/acad/psych/Millis/History/20 03/cogrev_skinner. htm http: //www. chomsky. info/articles/1967 ----. htm http: //www 3. niu. edu/acad/psych/Millis/History/20 03/cogrev_skinner. htm The Person
Images Clip art www. skewsme. com/behavior/baby_tender_b. jpg http: //www. harvardsquarelibrary. org/stafford/rs_skinn er. htm http: //www. xtimeline. com/evt/view. aspx? id=410554
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