Posts Tagged B.F.. Skinner

Problems with Behaviorism

On December 8, 2015 / Discipline

People sometimes ask me if I’m a behaviorist. I’m not.

Behaviorism usually refers to approaches of Pavlov (classical conditioning of stimulus/response) and Skinner (behavior modification by reinforcing behavior AFTER an act occurs).

Behavior modification is popular in schools, especially with special education specialists. Unfortunately, MANY RESEARCH STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THE APPROACH TO BE INEFFECTIVE. However, its staying power is attested to by an increasing number of states mandating that schools use “positive behavior support” that is based on a behavior modification model.

The essence of behavior modification is to REWARD DESIRED BEHAVIOR AND IGNORE UNDESIRED BEHAVIOR. The fact that inappropriate behavior is ignored can send the message that nothing is wrong with the behavior, and so there may be little … >>>

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Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports vs. Internal Motivation

On June 30, 2015 / Discipline

Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) is based on external motivation. It asks adults to find some behavior that they wish young people to do and then rewards them for doing it. The theory is that, if a reward is given, the person will repeat what the addult desires. In essence, the purpose is to use rewards to control behavior.

The concept of behaviorism originated with Ivan Pavlov and is referred to as classical conditioning. Ring a bell and give a dog food. Soon you can just ring a bell and the dog will salivate. Pavlov did not experiment with a cat. Cats are much more independent. B.F. Skinner, the famed former psychologist, used this approach to train pigeons and … >>>

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Discipline Without Stress Newsletter – June 2014

On June 15, 2014 / Discipline News, Newsletters

—Volume 14 Number 6

IN THIS ISSUE:

Welcome
Promoting Responsibility
Increasing Effectiveness
Improving Relationships
Promoting Learning
Parenting
Discipline without Stress (DWS)
Reviews and Testimonials

1. WELCOME

After recently presenting to a number businesses, schools, and parent groups and listening to so many complaints, I feel an obligation to offer a consulting service.

This service is available to teachers, parents, and/or leaders in any occupation or industry who would like to reduce stress, promote responsible behavior, improve relationships, promote learning, and/or receive more joy in parenting.

If you would like to learn more, please visit the consulting page .

MONTHLY QUOTE:

“I read about your “Discipline without Stress” book, ordered a copy, began to teach the hierarchy using stories to … >>>

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Discipline Without Stress Newsletter – May 2014

On May 10, 2014 / Discipline News, Newsletters

—Volume 14 Number 5

IN THIS ISSUE:

Welcome
Promoting Responsibility
Increasing Effectiveness
Improving Relationships
Promoting Learning
Parenting
Discipline without Stress (DWS)
Reviews and Testimonials

1. WELCOME

MONTHLY QUOTE:

It will work out in the end, and if it doesn’t then it’s not the end. –Dev Patel, from the Academy Award nominated movie,”The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”

—–

One of the advantages of the Raise Responsibility System (discipline and learning system) is that it can be implemented immediately. With this in mind, I share the following e-mail I received on Tuesday, April 29, after I presented the previous day.

“I attended your seminar yesterday in Voorhees, New Jersey and was very interested in the presentation. You have made me realize … >>>

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Tom Sawyer vs. Skinner

On September 14, 2012 / Articles

Tom Sawyer was a much better psychologist than any behaviorist. Why? Because he inspired others to whitewash Aunt Polly’s front fence. He prompted them to feel good about doing the chore, because he showed them how much fun they could be having. He triggered the internal motivation that prompted them to want to whitewash the fence.

Behaviorists believe that all behaviors are acquired through conditioning. They rely on external sources to actuate change. They completely neglect the internal, which is a prime reason that neuroscientists do not rely on these approaches for humans.

Unfortunately, a carrot and stick approach—used to train rodents, birds, and animals—is employed in much of education and parenting. Although behaviorism is touted for special education … >>>

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PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) Ethical Consequences

On October 18, 2011 / Discipline, Learning

QUESTION:

Positive Behavioral and Interventions and Supports(PBIS) is the discipline approach that is being mandated by many states. Do you have any thoughts on this approach?

RESPONSE:
This antiquated and backwards approach is based on the ideas of Ivan Pavlov, John B. Watson, and B.F. Skinner. Without going into detail explaining the differences, they are “behaviorist” and have the following in common:

1. Behaviorism is naturalistic. This means that the material world is the ultimate reality, and everything can be explained in terms of natural laws. Man has no soul and no mind, only a brain that responds to external stimuli.

2. Behaviorism teaches that man is nothing more than a machine that responds to conditioning. The central tenet of … >>>

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PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) Is Doomed to Failure

On August 17, 2008 / Discipline, Learning

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) was established by the Office of Special Education Programs in the U.S. Department of Education. The approach is behaviorally based in that it is a classic use of B.F. Skinner’s positive reinforcement of operant conditioning. The program was developed as an alternative to aversive interventions that were used with students with severe disabilities who engaged in extreme forms of self-injury and aggression. The approach rests on the idea that these students need something tangible to change behavior.

PBIS treats the acquisition and use of social-behavioral skills in much the same way we would academic skills. However, academic skills deal with the cognitive domain, whereas behavior has to do with the affective domain—those factors which … >>>

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More on PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports)

On December 20, 2007 / Discipline, Learning

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) or just Positive Behavior Support (PBS) is finding increasing use in the U.S.A. The approach was established by the Office of Special Education Programs in the U.S. Department of Education for students having severe disabilities who engaged in extreme forms of self-injury and aggression.

A basic rationale of PBS is that it is necessary to understand the “why” of a behavioral problem in order to “fix” the behavior. However, it is nearly impossible to articulate with certainty the underlying reasons for behavior. And even more important, although finding the rationale or reason for a behavior may be interesting, it has no effect on changing the behavior.

My personal life attests to this little … >>>

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