Chapter 12, Problem 1RQ

Summary Introduction

To differentiate:

Skinner’s approach to other psychologist’s approach-

Introduction:

Skinner emphasized that behaviors done by a person are learned by vicarious reinforcement not due to unconscious behavior told by Freud, nor due to free will. Cognitive processes can’t be taken into account in the field of psychology as it is not observable either it works as a mediator between stimulus and response. We should emphasize on practicing or conditioning that lead to be implicit of behavior by self-regulation and self-reinforcement.

Explanation of Solution

Skinner approach was more scientific; his theory emphasized the principle that a person learns through reinforcement. He has done experiments on rats and other animals; he was not in favor to take cognitive processes to be a matter of study in psychology.

He emphasized on learning principles, reinforcements and when a person gets conditioned, then he works in the same way. Childhood trauma and unconscious conflicts are nothing to be done when a person learns to behave by conditioning. The behavior only happens because of conditioning not because of free will.

Conclusion

There is a difference in his approach to making psychology purely scientific. He emphasized on reinforcement and learning patterns; it is conditioning which works between a stimulus and response.