Tma 02 Harlow and Skinner

1724 Words7 Pages
Both B.F Skinner and Harry Harlow’s concepts on learning and attachment respectively, was based on the theory that their investigations and research into behaviours could be applied across species. Both Skinner and Harlow have made important contributions to the understanding on the effects of behaviour. Harlow through his research challenged the opinion of many theorists and psychoanalysts, who regarded attachment mainly as cupboard love or as a function of feeding. Whilst Skinner maintained that a discipline that promoted positive reinforcement with the avoidance of punishment could solve the world’s problems. In many respects Skinner and Harlow’s approaches to study are similar as they both focused on the effects of behaviour; studying non-human animals because they were lower on the evolutional stage, less complex than their human counterparts and not affected by influences of society, culture etc. According to Skinner, one way of reinforcing behaviour is by operant conditioning as seen in the Skinner box; The Skinner box was a small, soundproof compartment where a rat or pigeon was isolated from outside stimuli and distractions reacting only to the controlled environment within the box. The Skinner box contained a lever or key that a pigeon or rat pressed or manipulated in order to acquire food pellets or water, this was then recorded by a device. Skinner, stated; that the rat/pigeon operated the lever when there was food and so therefore this reinforced the likelihood of the behaviour reoccurring in the future. The Skinner box allowed the study of animal behaviour in a controlled environment away from outside influences in a systematic and time efficient way. During his study, Skinner (1939), ran short of pellets and needed to economise on them. Skinner came across a solution that once that the rat/ pigeon’s behaviour had been shaped it was not necessary
Open Document