B.F Skinner`s Verbal Behavior Theory

Transcript B.F Skinner`s Verbal Behavior Theory

By Lyla Kolman

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Skinner Himself

 Full name – Burrhus Frederic Skinner  1904 – 1990  Celebrated Psychologist from Pennsylvania  Inventions for psychology experiments  Theory of operant conditioning  Verbal Behavior (1957)

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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.

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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:

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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.

Echoic 2.

Mands/Tact 3.

Interverbals Autoclitic (1)

http://www3.niu.edu/acad/psych/Millis/History/2003/cogrev_skinner.htm

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Echoic Verbal Behavior

 Primary form of verbal behavior Mommy!

 Includes repeated utterances Can you say “mommy”?

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Mands & Tact

 An abbreviation of “Demands”  Not driven by need  Disclose information Short directions, utterances driven by need Wait Stop I need… Go

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Interverbals

 Used as interaction during dialogue  No information disclosed Thank you Please

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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.jpg

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http://www3.niu.edu/acad/psych/Millis/History/200 3/cogrev_skinner.htm

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http://www.chomsky.info/articles/1967----.htm

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