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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
This 3-page paper uses Skinner's theories of S-R behavior and operant behavior to discuss why people develop a certain preference for food. Bibliography lists 4 sources.
Page Count:
3 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_MTskifoo.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
involves food preferences? Why do we develop a specific preference for a specific food over another? Can we change preferences of food, according to theory? The purpose of this paper
is to try to answer these questions using the theories of B.F. Skinner, who was a behavioral researcher. But before we go
into how Skinners theories would determine our preference for certain foods, its instructive to first define those theories. Skinners main claim to fame was that of "operant conditioning," in other
words, changes in behavior result from an individuals response to events (or stimuli) that take place in that persons environment (Psychology.org, 2003). Basically, when a particular Stimulus-Response (S-R) pattern is
rewarded (also called reinforcement), the individual then becomes conditioned to respond in a certain way (Psychology.org, 2003). Skinners belief was that the external stimulus automatically draws a response - and
this is what has been classified as operant conditioning (Psychology.org, 2003). Another important aspect of Skinners S-R theory is that of reinforcement,
with a reinforcer defined as anything that can strengthen a specific or desired response (Psychology.org, 2003; see also Bucher and Manning, 2001). This can work either positively or negatively, by
the way (Psychology.org, 2003). Another aspect of Skinners theory was that of "chaining," in other words, the fact that teaching a specific
response relied on a specific set of behavioral sequences that would lead to the final outcome (Gilbert and Gilbert, 1991). Finally,
we need to explain that Skinners "operant conditioning" is different from Pavlovs "classical conditioning" in that the former is a reward of a partial behavior or random act that approaches
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