Problem 3 - An Introduction to Theories of Personality

Question

Give an example from real life or from fiction to illustrate each of the following Skinnerian concepts: (a) response shaping, (b) partial reinforcement, (c) stimulus generalization, (d) discrimination, (e) extinction.

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

Examples for the Skinnerian concepts are as follows: Response shaping can be seen when training a dog to sit where only the correct response is rewarded. Partial reinforcement is seen in occasional winnings in gambling. Stimulus generalization can occur when a child is afraid of all dogs after being bitten by one. Discrimination is evident when a pigeon is trained to react only to a green light and not a red one for a reward. Extinction occurs when attention-seeking tantrums are ignored, resulting in reduction or cessation of the behavior.

Step 1 response shaping

Response shaping is a process used in behavioral psychology in which an initial behavior is gradually changed or sculpted into a desired pattern or response. An example of this might be teaching a dog to sit. Initially, the dog is rewarded even for small movements in the right direction, like moving its backside downward. Eventually, it is rewarded only when it fully sits down.

Step 2 partial reinforcement

Partial reinforcement refers to a situation in which a behavior is reinforced only a portion of the time. This concept is frequently employed in gambling. For instance, when playing a slot machine, a win occurs only occasionally, which makes the game more addictive. The intermittent reinforcement makes the behavior more resistant to extinction.

Step 3 stimulus generalization

Stimulus generalization is when the response to a specific stimulus also occurs in response to similar ones. A real-life example is a child who has been bitten by a dog may develop a fear of all dogs, not just the breed or color of dog that bit them.

Step 4 discrimination

Discrimination in Skinnerian terms means the ability to differentiate between different stimuli and respond accordingly. For example, a pigeon might be trained to peck a disk when a green light is turned on for food reward but does nothing when the red light is turned on.

Step 5 extinction

Extinction in behavioral psychology is the reduction or elimination of a response when it is no longer reinforced. An example could be a child who throws tantrums to get attention. If the adults stop responding to the tantrums, the child may initially increases the intensity of the tantrums, but gradually, the behavior will cease when it's not getting the anticipated response.

Key Concepts

Response Shaping

Response shaping is a fascinating technique in behavioral psychology. It involves gradually modifying behavior until a desired response is achieved. Think of it as sculpting behavior much like a potter shapes clay.

A common example is teaching a pet new tricks. Let's say you want to teach your dog to roll over. You start by rewarding any small movement toward rolling. Gradually, you wait for more significant movements before giving a reward. Eventually, you only reward when the dog completes a full roll. Through this step-by-step encouragement, your pet will learn the full behavior.

• Begin with small changes in behavior.
• Gradually increase expectations.
• Reinforce only when the target behavior is fully achieved.

Partial Reinforcement

Partial reinforcement refers to giving rewards only some of the time a behavior is performed, making it a powerful tool in behavior modification. This approach is widely seen in everyday activities, such as gambling.

Imagine you're playing a slot machine. Wins don't come every time you pull the lever, but they happen just often enough to keep you playing. This occasional reinforcement actually makes the gambling behavior more persistent.

• Reinforce intermittently rather than every time.
• Creates more lasting learning compared to continuous reinforcement.
• Utilizes unpredictability to maintain behavior.

Stimulus Generalization

Stimulus generalization is when a response extends beyond the original cue to similar stimuli. It's as if the behavior "generalizes" beyond the specifics.

Imagine a child who has been stung by a bee. They might start feeling anxious around any buzzing insect, not just bees. This response shows the generalization of fear to stimuli that resemble the original threat.

• Occurs when stimuli are perceived as similar.
• Important in understanding phobias and fears.
• Helps in comprehending learning and response patterns.

Discrimination

Discrimination is the ability to distinguish between different stimuli, responding accordingly based on past experiences.

Consider a student who laughs when a certain teacher tells a joke but remains serious when another teacher speaks. The student has learned to discriminate between the teachers based on past reactions.

• Key in recognizing which stimuli to respond to.
• Crucial for adapting to diverse environments.
• Enhances decision-making based on differentiation.

Extinction

In behavior terms, extinction refers to the gradual decrease of a learned response when reinforcement is removed.

Imagine a little child who uses whining to get candy at the store. If the parents stop giving candy in response to whining, the child may increase efforts at first, whining even more. Eventually, though, the child learns that whining no longer works, and the behavior fades.

• Occurs when rewards are consistently withheld.
• Important in reducing unwanted behaviors.
• Might lead to an initial increase in the behavior before it decreases.