Chapter 16 Skinner: Behavioral Analysis 493Key Terms and Concepts
∙ (^) Skinner’s theory of personality is based largely on his behavioral
analysis of rats and pigeons.
∙ (^) Although internal states such as thinking and feeling exist, they cannot
be used as explanations of behavior; only overt behavior can be studied
by the scientist.
∙ (^) Human behavior is shaped by three forces: (1) the individual’s personal
history of reinforcement, (2) natural selection, and (3) the evolution of
cultural practices.
∙ (^) Operant conditioning is a process of changing behavior in which
reinforcement (or punishment) is contingent on the occurrence of a
particular behavior.
∙ (^) A positive reinforcer is any event that, when added to a situation,
increases the probability that a given behavior will occur.
∙ (^) A negative reinforcer is any aversive stimulus that, when removed from
the environment, increases the probability of a given behavior.
∙ (^) Skinner also identified two types of punishment: The first is the
presentation of an aversive stimulus, and the second involves the
removal of a positive stimulus.
∙ (^) Reinforcement can be either continuous or intermittent, but intermittent
schedules are more efficient.
∙ (^) The four principal intermittent schedules of reinforcement are the fixed-
ratio, variable-ratio, fixed-interval, and variable-interval.
∙ (^) Social control is achieved through (1) operant conditioning, (2) describing
the contingencies of reinforcement, (3) depriving or satiating a person, or
(4) physically restraining an individual.
∙ (^) People can also control their own behavior through self-control, but all
control ultimately rests with the environment and not free will.
∙ (^) Unhealthy behaviors are learned in the same way as all other behaviors,
that is, mostly through operant conditioning.
∙ (^) To change unhealthy behaviors, behavior therapists use a variety of
behavior modification techniques, all of which are based on the
principles of operant conditioning.