Understanding Behavior Modification: Reinforcement & Punishment
School
University of Nairobi**We aren't endorsed by this school
Course
BUSINESS A D33
Subject
Psychology
Date
Dec 12, 2024
Pages
10
Uploaded by GeneralTank3151
1Behavior Modification through Reinforcement and PunishmentStudent nameInstitution Affiliation
2IntroductionThe construct of motivation is used to “explain the forces that act within a living thing that cause an organism to introduce and guide its actions.” The word “motivation” is also used toexplain why people behave differently at different times. Gordan & Amutan (2014) note that greater motivation levels, it is believed, are the result of more aggressive behaviors. Furthermore,we frequently employ motivation to demonstrate and emphasize the behavior’s direction. The Reinforcement Theory and Behaviorism theories are good examples that explain motivation. Skinner B.F introduced the reinforcement theory, while John Watson introduced behaviorism theory. This essay explains two behavioral theories, my interest, my experience with the theories,and their impact on society. Also, it explores the major aspect I would change in society today and how the two theories would be applied in establishing the changes.The Reinforcement Theory is one of the most ancient motivational theories. It describes how we behave and what motivates us to act in some manner. Today’s psychology curriculum includes this concept, also known as “operant conditioning” or “behaviorism” (Gordan & Amutan, 2014, p 681). The idea of the theory is that “a person’s behavior is a result of the implications of that behavior.” Skinner also illustrated this concept from various perspectives. Acknowledging Skinner’sconcepts allows multiple organizations such as government, businesses, mental hospitals, and schools to gain a comprehensive understanding of people’s behavior (Gordan & Amutan, 2014, p681). Theoretically, the behaviorists believed that “to understand better why living beings behavethe way they do, one had to look at the intentions or goals of that individual.” Skinner is interested in human behavior as well as the environment where they live. He makes a significant
3contribution to behavioral psychology. Reinforcement theory clearly explains how we learn a behavior and how we respond in a variety of situations.In the same way, in classroom settings, the various educators who want to motivate students should ensure that they do not reward all of the students involved by rewarding them. They could perhaps communicate with students who are not behaving appropriately during earning. Also, they should aim at guiding the process of learning in the proper direction. Educators should, at the very least, raise students’ awareness. They are supposed to instruct themin areas they get positive reinforcement. Whenever it comes to behavior assessment and operant conditioning, reinforcement refers to the process where one enhances the degree of occurrence ofcertain behavior. This is made possible by delivering a reaction either instantaneously or briefly after the action is observed. Individuals’ emotional and psychological states and feelings are highlighted in the Reinforcement Theory of Motivation (RTM) (Overskeid, 2018, p 2). It is generally acknowledged that reinforcement theory is concerned with the changes occurring in each individual due to participating in certain actions. Such changes also come as a result of engaging in certain behaviors. Consequently, Skinner affirms that the external organizational environment should be established to motivate the employees. In that manner, the Reinforcement Theory of Motivation is an extremely effective method of controlling the process of behavior and action in every person (Gordan & Amutan, 2014, p 682). However, this theory does not take into consideration the reasons for people’s actions.Behaviorism theory by Watson is another theory that I have had experience with and has shaped my life. Behaviorism, also referred to as cognitive psychology, is a learning theory that states that all behavior is learned through environmental stimuli. Notably, this occurs through conditioning. Conditioning is a learning process by which all behavior patterns are learned
4through environmental influence. As a result, behavior, and attitude are nothing more than a response to an external stimulus. Empirical findings show that observable behaviors are concerned with behaviorism. While behaviorism is directly associated with observable behavior, it does not consider internal events such as reasoning or feelings (McLeod, 2020). No matter how big, every action can be broken down into its basic element: the stimulus-response affiliation.I have had experiences with behaviorism and reinforcement theories in my life. For instance, I applied reinforcement theory during my time in college. As it is known, it can be extremely stressful to live in a house with three individuals in college. The garbage was always filling up, and the shower was filthy. The kitchen, on the other hand, was indeed a source of contention. Inside the sink, a mountain of utensils lay there to be washed. As I was often diligent in rinsing my dishes and placing them in the dishwasher, it appeared that two housemates preferred to leave their stinky dishes in the kitchen. They would even stay for a week before washing them. To see how it would go, I gave up washing the utensils and waited for either of my friends to do it independently. After one of them managed to wash the utensils in time, I was so excited. As I congratulated them, I expressed surprise at how “spotless” the room had become at long last. All of this didn’t last long before my housemates realized what was going on and began to clean the utensils independently without being instructed by anyone. My shocker at how effortlessly I could motivate my roommates to clean up without shouting or stiffly referring out to them was surprising. I successfully maintained a spotless house while also preserving positive relations with them. Notably, this occurred simply by employing positive reinforcement techniques. By praising their desirable attributes and disregarding their negative ones, I increased
5their good habits without causing them any harm. It was a simple premise, but it can reveal a considerable measure about the brain and how well it generally functions when put into practice.I also had an experience with behaviorism while in elementary school. The teachers implemented a behaviorism method known as a reward system. Students were advised on how toreceive a gift. Notably, this included listening attentively, remaining on assignment, and raising their arm when a teacher posed a question. Tokens were given in stickers, punch cards, or stars depending on the child’s age. Whenever a sufficient number of tokens were accumulated, pupils exchanged the gift cards for a prize of their choosing. I remember that I once received a watch because I had accumulated 50 tokens. With the help of behaviorism, the teachers helped in improving our learning. They also helped in decreasing distracting children’s behavior. Moreover, the teachers established the experience and abilities they wanted us to acquire before writing lesson plans. They first identified the criteria that would be used to assess performance accurately. They also created a way of monitoring our progress. They found new methods of intervening if there were any problems. Through conditioning, we were aware of the teacher’s expectations in terms of academics and behavior patterns. The teachers motivated us to do a great job by using tests and exam results as a motivator.I am particularly interested in this theory because it acts as a powerful tool for assessing the mechanisms that regulate an individual’s actions. When it comes to boosting my positive behavior, reinforcement theory offers two options. Troussas et al. (2017) note that positive reinforcement itself is a type of reinforcement. The other one is negative reinforcement. Positive reinforcement mainly involves building a strong cordial response when appropriate behavior is exhibited (Troussas et al., 2017, p 3). For instance, the instant complimenting that I usually
6receive for arriving early to class. It increases the likelihood of such exemplary behavior recurring in the future. An incentive can be a prime motivator. However, that is not always the case. Negative reinforcement is a method used to incentivize me by eliminating bad or undesired consequences from my performance. I also understand that, for example, an individualmay find it unappealing to be constantly supervised when it comes to business. If individuals perform their tasks to the best possible standards, they will likely not be supervised anymore. Because of carrying out their duties well, they will be rewarded with reducing the monitoring (Troussas et al., 2017, p 3). Through positive reinforcement, I have been able to ensure that my actions attract positive responses. In my opinion, Skinner’s theory is extremely important in today’s society and has influenced many aspects. Amongst many other fields of study, the reinforcement concept has been applied in training animals, motivating employees, and child-rearing. Reinforcement theories are concerned with observational learning. A subset of operant conditioning, the theory explains how external factors affect and influence behavior (Troussas et al., 2017, p 3). In a nutshell, stimuli are used in shaping behaviors through learning and have been applied to reinforce behavior among people in the world. For example, discipline is essential for a children’s success and growth, as most educators agree. Even though it’s comforting to assume that discipline is often associated with some punitive measure, this is not always the case. To promote positive reinforcement, operant conditioning is used in the classroom. It helps teachers and students achieve the positive conduct desired in such a context. Operant conditioning has been employed successfully in the school setting, which has been applied in various contexts. Among the most effective methods of strengthening behavior inthe classroom is by praising it. Despite how straightforward the situation appears, the teacher
7successfully educates the student on the conduct they expect. Through positive reinforcement, the child will most likely feel motivated to do better the next time. Notably, this results in a win-win situation for both the teacher and the child. However, it is important not to overuse rewards, leading to the child’s dependence on the reward (McLeod, 2020). If they are overly accustomed to receiving the rewards, such as sweets, they may find it hard to behave in the same manner when they are not given a treat of this nature.I am particularly interested in behaviorism theory because of its huge contribution to education. Largely, one component of behaviorism that could be viewed as an input to learning is learning goals during the instructional process. It is critical to note that teaching strategies are indeed based on behavioral objectives. Notably, they establish expectations for how students should handle things after they are done with their studies. It could be said that learning lacks focus or an envisioned goal if the behavioral aims do not demonstrate the overarching purpose ofthe student learning. “Stipulated, tangible, positive behaviors” describe the learning goals in a behavioral purpose (Kasonde Ng’andu et al., 2013, p 62).This theory has revolutionized learning in schools and also behaviors in society. How behaviorism manifests itself in the classroom context, on the other hand, remains a mystery. It is indeed possible behaviorism is more widespread than humans realize. The majority of curriculum designs in the United Kingdom are centered on behaviorist theory. The use of compliments or applause points to recognize and incentivize pupils for their efforts is a behaviorist approach. Students are taught to act a certain way or to aspire for higher levels of performance. Importantly, this involves the use of techniques advocated by Watson. The application of behaviorism is also seen in how we teach pupils to reevaluate what they have beentaught. This occurs when they are preparing for their exams (McLeod, 2020). The practice of
8repeating activities and practice tests to enhance test scores and, finally, earn a higher grade is distinctively behaviorist in focus. It is taught in schools the more the learners practice, the greaterthe amount of appreciation they will earn for performing well and earning good scores.As a result of Watson’s concept, many extrinsic motivators are now being used throughout today’s educational environments. The use of behaviorism in the classroom can be demonstrated by educators who incentivize positive behavior by having a party for their class. Mainly, this may occur after students have been observed doing something more appropriately compared to others. Also, educators use behaviorism by placing an exciting sticker on a passing mark. Others use objects to encourage positive conduct. Educators who deny a pupil recess or any well-liked liberty because the person has been behaving inappropriately are strengthening healthy behaviors. Admittedly, this results in a reduction of bad or unwelcome behavior.Behaviorism and reinforcement theory has enabled me to understand that the aspects which inspire behavior change in the world are important in solving critical societal problems, ranging from preserving our earth’s natural resources to tackling climate change. It is necessary to consider the person’s attributes and the environment when developing interventions for behavior modification. Reinforcement theory and behaviorism have assisted me in refining my comprehension of what inspires modifications in behavior to enhance effectiveness. Certainly, the concept of “one size fits all” doesn’t quite function. On this point, the long-term transformation will occur due to changes in behavior at the individual and community levels.One of the aspects that I would modify about culture today is the school system. There is no denying that the school system is unjust on a variety of levels. The grades always determinethe capacity of a pupil that they receive. Also, our parents push us to work hard in school and earn good grades. We are forced to believe that if we fail to achieve high academic standing, we
9are unworthy of anything in life. The school system must be modernized to educate trainees more about civilization. It should also focus on making learning less strenuous than it currently is. Although test scores are a method of assessing pupils’ understanding, they must not be regarded as the be-all and end of the road. Many learners do not receive high grades, but they excel in a variety of extracurricular activities. They may have a wealth of knowledge, but that may not be indicated on their grade report. However, this should not imply that the learner is lacking intelligence or skill in any way. Rather than forcing their kids to read and get good marks, children should be allowed to pursue their passions. They should not be forced to conform.A greater level of education may be forced upon children simply because it offers the best pay. Also, children understand that society will only respect people who obtain the greatest education level. Assuredly, this is the notion and myth that I would love to demystify in society. I believe that reinforcement theory and behaviorism theory would be essential in changing such ideas. Whether favorable or unfavorable, reinforcement tends to work by heightening the probability that a behavior will occur in the future. When it comes to punishment, any incident that diminishes the chances of behavior is considered punishment. As such, reinforcing a certain behavior that encourages children to pursue their passions will help change the education system.Also, through behaviorism or creating an environment where the traditional notions of educations are disregarded, parents would start appreciating that they should allow their children to pursue their passions.
10ReferencesGordan, M., & Amutan, K. I. (2014). A Review of B.F. Skinners Reinforcement Theory of Motivation. International Journal of Research in Education Methodology, 5(3), 680-688.Kasonde Ng’andu, F. H., Haambokoma, N., & Tomaida, M. (2013). The Contribution of Behaviorism Theory to Education. Journal: Zambia Journal of Education, 4(1), 58-74.McLeod, S. (2020). Behaviorism. Study Guides for Psychology Students - Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/behaviorism.htmlOverskeid G. (2018). Do We Need the Environment to Explain Operant Behavior? Frontiers in psychology, 9, 373. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00373Troussas, C., Krouska, A., & Virvou, M. (2017). Reinforcement theory combined with a badge system to foster student’s performance in E-learning environments. 2017 8th International Conference on Information, Intelligence, Systems & Applications (IISA). https://doi.org/10.1109/iisa.2017.8316421