I am a product of the theories of B.F. Skinner. I graduated in psychology in 1981 and was thoroughly drilled in Behaviorism. I remember the "rat lab" where we were given a white lab rat and had to teach them to swing on a trapeze, spin in circles, and push a lever to get some food. I liked my rat until it bit me.
I liked Behaviorism and still do. It makes sense to me. I like the idea of observable, measurable results that anyone can see. I can easily see the effects of rewards and punishments on any organism. After studying Freud, Jung, and existentialism, Skinner was like a breath of fresh air. I am so versed in Behaviorism that any time I puzzle over anyone's behavior, I automatically look for the rewards and/or punishments of that behavior. I see Behaviorism in myself as well.
Do I use behaviorism in the classroom? Absolutely. One of the ways I use operant conditioning is my behavior at the end of administering a test. After the test is finished and then randomly distributed for correction, the test is then return to the owner. Then I ask the owners to pass the test up along each column of desks. As I pick up each column, I look at the scores in front of the class. I tell the students, "I get to look. I'm the teacher."
Each student who earns an A grade on the test is publicly praised immediately. Those scoring 100% are particularly praised. I don't say anything to those who don't do as well. Occasionaly, if an entire column does poorly, I will say, "Well, keep studying." The students will laugh. Following the variable ratio schedule of reinforcement, I do not do this every time, but randomly.
I am amazed at how important that praise becomes to those students. Frequently, if I don't do the praising, students will say something to me like, "Hey, did you look at my score?" They want that public praise, specifically from me, the authority figure in the classroom.
Now all that being said, I do not believe in Behaviorism to the extent B.F. Skinner did. He claims in the video there is no such thing as free will. I can't go that far. Skinner was deeply criticized for his theories that can appear to turn humans into unthinking animals. Humans are far more complex than pidgeons, dogs,or rats. While we do respond to rewards and punishments, there is so much more to being human. Skinner never could explain profound acts of altruism, courage, and sacrifice. In other words, he never could explain the best and the highest that is in us. Of course, neither could Freud or Jung.
