Punishment verses Rewards
The use of positive reinforcement has a much better outcome than if punishment were to be used, This was the idea of B.F. Skinner, a well-known psychologist from the 1970’s who enlightened the world with his behavioral techniques. Skinner believed that the use of positive reinforcement helped to shape a beings behavior verses punishment. He proved his theory when he trained his rats to push a lever by frequent and scheduled rewards and birds to peck plates using his positive reinforcement ideas. He wanted to take his knowledge of positive reinforcement and apply it to mankind and to improve mankind’s behavior and learning technique. Skinner stayed away from punishment because of the negative outcomes it lead to. Positive …show more content…
Each of these examples uses a form of positive reinforcement with some kind of reward. Positive reinforcement is the best method to training, if using punishment you will only frighten the trainee and cause resentment. Skinner couldn’t stress enough about positive reinforcement over punishment. He disliked using punishment when practicing behavior control; it only worsened the behavior rather than improving it (DeBell and Harless 70). Imagine trying to learn a new skill at work and your boss screaming at you or cutting your hours because you were doing the task wrong. You wouldn’t work very well in that situation now would you? This is why Skinner believed that the use of positive reinforcement and rewards was a better technique than punishment when it came to training. Skinner also believed that behavior is formed from the consequences used and the best way to receive better behaviors is to change the consequences (Murphy …show more content…
Some critics believed that he was using his behavioral techniques as a form of mind control and that he saw humans as another one of his lab rats. One critic compared his technique to a form of dog obedience class (Slater 15). I believe that people were afraid of his ideas because they did not like the idea of anyone having that big of an impact on their behavior. What they didn’t know was that Skinner was not looking to control the populations mind, but only wanted to better the training technique and improve mankind’s behavior so that they could improve their learning skills and behaviors. We as humans need all the help we can get when it comes to behavior issues. We are so focused on what we believe to be right rather than what is truly right. Skinner taught us that people don’t work or learn as well with punishment as they do with positive reinforcement. Skinners ideas were even used to correct traffic safety issues, the use of his techniques helped to reduce reckless driving (Slater 18). The positive outcome from Skinners behavioral technique alone should encourage his critics to approve of his technique. With all the positivity coming from his work, there is little room for much
The use of positive reinforcement has a much better outcome than if punishment were to be used, This was the idea of B.F. Skinner, a well-known psychologist from the 1970’s who enlightened the world with his behavioral techniques. Skinner believed that the use of positive reinforcement helped to shape a beings behavior verses punishment. He proved his theory when he trained his rats to push a lever by frequent and scheduled rewards and birds to peck plates using his positive reinforcement ideas. He wanted to take his knowledge of positive reinforcement and apply it to mankind and to improve mankind’s behavior and learning technique. Skinner stayed away from punishment because of the negative outcomes it lead to. Positive …show more content…
Each of these examples uses a form of positive reinforcement with some kind of reward. Positive reinforcement is the best method to training, if using punishment you will only frighten the trainee and cause resentment. Skinner couldn’t stress enough about positive reinforcement over punishment. He disliked using punishment when practicing behavior control; it only worsened the behavior rather than improving it (DeBell and Harless 70). Imagine trying to learn a new skill at work and your boss screaming at you or cutting your hours because you were doing the task wrong. You wouldn’t work very well in that situation now would you? This is why Skinner believed that the use of positive reinforcement and rewards was a better technique than punishment when it came to training. Skinner also believed that behavior is formed from the consequences used and the best way to receive better behaviors is to change the consequences (Murphy …show more content…
Some critics believed that he was using his behavioral techniques as a form of mind control and that he saw humans as another one of his lab rats. One critic compared his technique to a form of dog obedience class (Slater 15). I believe that people were afraid of his ideas because they did not like the idea of anyone having that big of an impact on their behavior. What they didn’t know was that Skinner was not looking to control the populations mind, but only wanted to better the training technique and improve mankind’s behavior so that they could improve their learning skills and behaviors. We as humans need all the help we can get when it comes to behavior issues. We are so focused on what we believe to be right rather than what is truly right. Skinner taught us that people don’t work or learn as well with punishment as they do with positive reinforcement. Skinners ideas were even used to correct traffic safety issues, the use of his techniques helped to reduce reckless driving (Slater 18). The positive outcome from Skinners behavioral technique alone should encourage his critics to approve of his technique. With all the positivity coming from his work, there is little room for much