SOCIOL 3U03 Lecture Notes - Lecture 16: Dependent And Independent Variables, Fidgeting, Reinforcement
29 Jan 2018
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Document Summary
When you have a theory is can lead to multiple speculations. Skinner said it should be studied and observed in the most direct way. Two characteristics: rely exclusively on directly observable phenomena, psychology is considered an objective science. Analysis of behaviour needs to leave out any subjective interpretations and any mental events. Skinner was a very good writer and wanted to be a novelist. You spend a lot of time explaining your ideas to people. He had remarkable mechanical skills he had the capability to fidget with machines that he would put animals in to figure out how a rat can press a lever. He had a good relationship with the media . Skinners theory is based on 2 fundamental assumptions: human behaviour follows certain laws, causes of behaviour are outside the person, and that these can be observed and studied. He had the language to explain his ideas and the technical skills to build the machinery.
