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Behavioral Theory

The document discusses behavioral theory and operant conditioning. It explains key concepts in behavioral theory like reinforcement, punishment, and different schedules of reinforcement. Classical conditioning is also covered including the three stages of classical conditioning.

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Portia A. Egken
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48 views27 pages

Behavioral Theory

The document discusses behavioral theory and operant conditioning. It explains key concepts in behavioral theory like reinforcement, punishment, and different schedules of reinforcement. Classical conditioning is also covered including the three stages of classical conditioning.

Uploaded by

Portia A. Egken
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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BEHAVIORAL THEORY

Portia A. Egken
The Behavioral theory is a
perspective on management
that emphasizes the importance
of attempting to understand the
various factors that affect human
behavior in organizations.
The employees behavior was
not affected by job conditions
alone, there were internal
reactions to the job situation
also that affect their behavior.
Video on behavioral theory

video-1551783999.mp4
Operant conditioning is a method of
learning that occurs through rewards
and punishments for behavior. Through
operant conditioning, an individual
makes an association between a
particular behavior and a consequence
(Skinner, 1938).
The work of Skinner was rooted in
a view that classical conditioning was far
too simplistic to be a complete
explanation of complex human behavior.
He believed that the best way to
understand behavior is to look at the
causes of an action and its consequences.
He called this approach operant
conditioning
Skinner is regarded as the father of Operant
Conditioning, but his work was based on
Thorndike’s (1898) law of effect. According to this
principle, behavior that is followed by pleasant
consequences is likely to be repeated, and behavior
followed by unpleasant consequences is less likely
to be repeated.
Skinner introduced a new term into the Law
of Effect - Reinforcement. Behavior which is
reinforced tends to be repeated (i.e., strengthened);
behavior which is not reinforced tends to die out-or
be extinguished (i.e., weakened)
Skinner identified three types of responses, or
operant, that can follow behavior
Neutral operants: responses from the environment
that neither increase nor decrease the probability of
a behavior being repeated.
• Reinforcers: Responses from the environment that
increase the probability of a behavior being
repeated. Reinforcers can be either positive or
negative.
• Punishers: Responses from the environment that
decrease the likelihood of a behavior being
repeated. Punishment weakens behavior
Positive reinforcement strengthens a behavior
by providing a consequence an individual finds
rewarding.
The removal of an unpleasant reinforcer can
also strengthen behavior. This is known as
negative reinforcement because it is the
removal of an adverse stimulus which is
‘rewarding’ to the animal or person. Negative
reinforcement strengthens behavior because it
stops or removes an unpleasant experience
Punishment (weakens behavior)
Punishment is defined as the opposite
of reinforcement since it is designed to
weaken or eliminate a response rather
than increase it. It is an aversive event
that decreases the behavior that it
follows.
Schedules of Reinforcement
1. The Response Rate - The rate at which
the rat pressed the lever (i.e., how hard
the rat worked).
2. The Extinction Rate - The rate at which
lever pressing dies out (i.e., how soon
the rat gave up
(A)Continuous Reinforcement An animal/human
is positively reinforced every time a specific
behavior occurs, e.g., every time a lever is
pressed a pellet is delivered, and then food
delivery is shut off
(B). Fixed Ratio Reinforcement Behavior is
reinforced only after the behavior occurs a
specified number of times. e.g., one
reinforcement is given after every so many
correct responses, e.g., after every 5th
response
(C) Fixed Interval Reinforcement One
reinforcement is given after a fixed time interval
providing at least one correct response has been
made. An example is being paid by the hour.
(D) Variable Ratio Reinforcement Behavior is
reinforced after an unpredictable number of
times. For examples gambling or fishing.
(E) Variable Interval Reinforcement Providing
one correct response has been made,
reinforcement is given after an unpredictable
amount of time has passed, e.g., on average every
5 minutes. An example is a self-employed person
being paid at unpredictable times.
Classical conditioning (also known as
Pavlovian conditioning) is learning
through association. In simple terms two
stimuli are linked together to produce a
new learned response in a person or
animal.
Classical conditioning is a type of
learning that had a major influence on
the school of thought in psychology
known as behaviorism. Discovered by
Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov,
classical conditioning is a learning
process that occurs through associations
between an environmental stimulus and
a naturally occurring stimulus.
There are three stages of classical conditioning. At
each stage the stimuli and responses are given
special scientific terms:
Stage 1: Before Conditioning:
In this stage, the unconditioned stimulus
(UCS) produces an unconditioned response
(UCR) in an organism.
Stage 2: During Conditioning:
During this stage a stimulus which produces no
response (i.e., neutral) is associated with the
unconditioned stimulus at which point it now
becomes known as the conditioned stimulus
(CS).
Stage 3: After Conditioning:
Now the conditioned stimulus (CS) has been
associated with the unconditioned stimulus
(UCS) to create a new conditioned response
(CR).
Behavioral management theory
emerged when employee behavior and
motivation was ignored at the time of
classical theory. In any organization,
relationship is termed as an important
set of areas that should be handled
with care in order to make every single
organization an effective one.
Expectations, conflicts, motivations,
level of productivity and group
behavior are important areas that
should be handled carefully.

Behavior is an important area that


surely affects the working of an
organization.
When employees working in any
organization do enjoys free lunches or any
other activities while rest of the employees
do not, then conflicts do arises and thus
change in the behavior emerges out. This is
not healthy for any organization because if
behavior of employees changes, then it will
surely affect the working of an organization.
Behavioral management theories do revolve around Abraham Maslow
theory. The hierarchy depicts five major areas:
THANK YOU

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