Theoretical Compassion #2 :Skinner vs. Bandura

Most will associate Skinner and Watson’s work, in regards to the learning theory, in fact, Skinner expanded on Watson’s original theory. Both theories have the same concept; however, with Skinners, “Two critical concepts in operant conditioning are reinforcement and punishment”, (Ashford J. B. & LeCroy, C.W., 2013). Ones’ behavior can be encourage or discourage by reward or punishment. Skinner believes in playing an active role in the conditioning of an individual’s behavior. Skinner used rats and pigeons to do most of his research. Primarily the experimentation of how rats react with positive and negative reinforcement in regards to them pushing a lever. The observation revealed that in order for the rat to get what it wanted it would push the lever, when this reward was taken away the rat continued to press the lever over and over and then became irritated when the reward was not given.

Bandura believes in the observation of others will lead to one’s behavior. His theory is known as the Social learning Theory. In order to frame one behavior they must observe others known and unknown to the individual in a social environment. “Bandura’s foremost theoretical contribution has been his description of observational learning”, (Dunn, D...et. al, 2009). Every individual will encounter situations where someone educates them that their behavior is predicated from someone else’s, and this will happen throughout one’s life. But the observation and implementation of others actions can be negative or positive and this is learned from birth, how to mimic the actions of others. While Both Bandura and Skinner both believe that behaviors are learned and replicated they just arrive at this analysis in a different manor.

Ashford, J.B. & LeCroy, C.W. (2013). Human behavior in the social environment: A multidimensional perspective (5th ed). Australia: Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning.

Dunn, D., Hammer, E. Y., Lloyd, M.A., Weiten, W. (2009). Psychology Applied to Modern Life: Adjustment in the 21^st century (9^th ed.). Belmont, CA. Wadsworth Cengage Learning.