February 2012
12 posts
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Competing Reinforcer
I did not sleep well last night so sleep is the most valuable reinforcer for me today. MO is in full effect. Never mind reinforcement from TV, video games or writing a half decent post - tonight, sleep wins.
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Intuition: The Unexplained Behaviour
The New Webster’s Dictionary (1986) defines intuition as “perception without reasoning” (p. 96). From chapter two in Skinner’s (1974) About Behaviorism, we know that perception is a private event (behaviour) within the person. Meanwhile, reasoning is defined by Skinner (1974) as the analysis of behaviour; to understand the conditions under which behaviour is reinforced. In other words,...
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Three-Term Contingency of the Day: Have Some Gum
Antecedent: I have coffee breath and I'm about to meet up with someone.
Behaviour: I stick in a piece of gum and chew on it.
Consequence: Coffee breath goes away (negative reinforcement).
Another everyday example of negative reinforcement. Gum chewing is reinforced because it removes the unpleasant smell and experience of having coffee breath (or onion breath, garlic breath, fish breath...etc.). If the gum works, you are likely to pop another in the next time your breath stinks.
I saw you doing the breath test. Have some gum.
turdleskaito asked: I just want to say thanks, im in a behavioural science course in toronto... 2nd year out of 3... you make me think harder about my profession of choice and i enjoy all your writing!
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Three-Term Contingency of the Day: Let's Get...
An article was recently shared on Twitter by user @mindmotionpsych regarding the growing trend people exercising and mastering physical activity. You can read the article here http://bit.ly/wd7WCO The article questioned people’s intent - whether an individual is engaging in physical activity from a weight loss perspective, a fitness perspective or a mental health perspective. I think any...
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Have You Been Shaped Today?
One of the things I love about the behaviour analytic approach to learning is that it assumes learning is possible no matter the person’s age, cognitive level, diagnosis or life circumstances. We engage in new behaviours every day; shaped largely by our past experiences, some slightly altered social and environmental conditions and a set of changing expectations.
Shaping is a process...
Anonymous asked: When a person says that his yelling and belittling of a person is negative reinforcement and he continues to do it, what are the longterm affects on the person's who is the recipient of this kind of behaviour? Are there any studies to demonstrate these results?
