Question

Who emphasized the R-S (Response-Stimulus) connection and reinforcement instead of the S-R (Stimulus-Response) connection ?

• A. Skinner
• B. Pavlov
• C. Thorndike
• D. Köhler

Answer 1

Answer:

A. Skinner

B.F. Skinner and Operant Conditioning

• B.F. Skinner proposed the theory of Operant Conditioning, which focuses on the consequences of behavior rather than preceding stimuli.
• Unlike the classical S-R (Stimulus-Response) paradigm associated with Pavlov and Watson, Skinner prioritized the R-S (Response-Stimulus) sequence. In this model, the response occurs first, followed by a reinforcing stimulus.
• Reinforcement is the core mechanism in Skinnerian psychology. It is defined as any event that increases the probability of a response recurring.
• Skinner distinguished between two types of reinforcement:
  • Positive Reinforcement: Adding a desirable stimulus after a behavior to strengthen it.
  • Negative Reinforcement: Removing an aversive stimulus after a behavior to strengthen it.
• The Skinner Box (Operant Conditioning Chamber) was the experimental tool used to demonstrate this, where animals learned to press a lever (response) to receive a food pellet (reinforcing stimulus).
• This approach is often referred to as Instrumental Conditioning, emphasizing that an individual's behavior acts as an instrument to produce a specific environmental outcome.