B. F. Skinner, Behaviorism and Your Superstitious Beliefs

[@MichaelBritt_ThePsychFiles]

I agree that many people attribute the founder role to John Watson, but Skinner did far more to develop behaviorism than Watson.

[@PoisonxAlchemist]

I think the tilt is a product of empathy. Our minds are designed to simulate circumstances (it's why we dream) predicting what will give us the desired outcome. In the moments before we bowl we are entirely focused on mentally simulating the ball's travel; and when we release the ball that does not just *stop*, it shifts focus. We imagine if we were the ball, we would lean left. So we lean unconsciously left. If the ball was a person it might see this and oblige. Humaity is reciprocity.

[@MichaelBritt_ThePsychFiles]

Sounds a little like a copout I suppose, but it's clear that children seem to take to language quite easily as Chomsky demonstrated. For example, a child might say, "I shutted the door" even though no one ever taught them to say something that is obviously incorrect, but "shutted" makes sense to the child. But children also learn language through reinforcement from parents and from modeling the speech they hear others say. So children learn to speak through a number of processes.

[@israamegahed2279]

watching this to study for my exam tmw n all I can focus on is the fact that this vid was posted 13 yrs ago

[@gidgetron]

Thanks for some more helpful information. I am a psychology student and I enjoy your website as well! :)

[@rachelwolf1767]

Because your leaning is on an intermittent schedule of reinforcement, at one point in time the behavior was followed by your leaning. Research shows that intermittent reinforcement schedules are very strong and difficult to break, so to speak.

[@De1rico]

Good job with the demonstration of bowling and the elevator. So true. LOL!

[@JimWestonInfowarrior]

No problem in fact I have a book recommendation for all who are enjoying this video and especially you rodolfo. "Battle for the Mind" by William Sargant. Very famous British psychiatrist. The book is infinitely valuable due to its behaviouristic approach, mainly relying on an in depth analysis of Pavlov's work in relation to religious&political brainwashing. Btw am no atheist in fact I am a monotheist (believe in one God) yet I think everybody should know about this! Best wishes

[@Edwordless]

People don't really think they influence the ball or elevator do they? I may press an elevator or crosswalk button more than once to make sure it registered, or out of impatience, but I know it arrives at a prescribed time. Once the bowling ball has left my hand, I no longer influence it, but may twist and turn or yell at it as a sign of my intention or excitement and desire to win. And if 9 times out of 10 the ball misses when I lean, wouldn't I learn not to lean?

[@haraldg]

Do you have any comments on the following; what if the leaning after throwing the bowling ball is in fact not a superstitious response from a former experience, but something that has been learned from watching others throw the ball. Learning from others superstition while not actually thinking the lean will work. What would you call that?

[@hacks486]

Great video really liked the parrot "put in the basket."

[@nakamuragames]

I was searching for Pigeon Superstition and found this. Great video. Learnt a lot.

[@MichaelBritt_ThePsychFiles]

I'm just wondering why you would be doing a search on "pigeon superstition"? :)

[@nakamuragames]

@@MichaelBritt_ThePsychFiles This is quite a strange and long story. I was actually checking if Logitech MX "for Mac" series mouse has enhanced bluetooth capability over standard version. Since there is no official statement, I look for actual user feedbacks in KZbin video comment section. I found a comment from Dijon Mustard under kzbin.info/www/bejne/a3-pc6SvmZ18f80, stating that it does have enhanced bluetooth, because he has standard version which is lagging, and has Mac version which works flawlessly. (Although he does not provide any reference for this statement) Under that thread, another user commented that his thought is actually "Pigeon Superstition". Just that what he did and then what happens altogether, does not account for it being the reason. Then I wonder if "Pigeon Superstition" is some kind of theory, and finally got here.

[@MichaelBritt_ThePsychFiles]

@@nakamuragames Yes, that is odd. Well, I'd be interested if you ever figure out what "pigeon superstition" is. I've never heard the expression before.

[@nakamuragames]

@@MichaelBritt_ThePsychFiles I think you explained the term well at 3:12 - 3:56. I also found a citation to Skinner's original words: psycnet.apa.org/record/1948-04299-001 It kind of relates to how human forms a superstitious behaviour.

[@PoisonxAlchemist]

Unfortunately no, I'm not a psychologist I've just recently been looking into the subject for my own pet project. My reasoning is that altruism is evolutionary supported, reciprocity is even in Maslow's hierarchy, and empathy is an efficient tool for communicating needs of groups and individuals. We are constantly communicating consciously and unconsciously in an effort to elicit help from others. This works well on people and dogs, but not bowling balls.

[@musicislove90]

I'm doing a presentation on Skinner, and this is a great video! I love the birds, they're so cute. haha

[@eyechubcunt3322]

At least your kids only press the lift button in the direction they want to go. I noticed in the UK most press both up and down buttons. Even after I have pointed out their error they still do it. thanks to your vid I understand why.

[@rachelwolf1767]

The method is called shaping, and it differentially reinforces successive approximations. Successive approximations are not a method, but rather emitted behaviors.

[@Cristaliena]

Oh, wow, that's a cool idea! I'm going to do some research into it; I feel like I've heard something about empathy in a lecture recently.

[@17I18]

Rodolfo1114, may i have you're permission to upload this video for use in my psychology class?

[@MichaelBritt_ThePsychFiles]

That's an interesting idea actually. The topic of empathy is getting some attention lately. Any specific research you can point to to support the idea?

[@NegativeArmadillo]

Rodolfo1114: Great video and nice footage, mind if I upload to my class website for them to see (with credit to you of course).

[@Jonas23595]

I am a bit skeptical about what you say about bowling: you seldom see people leaning right when they want the ball to move left. So I doubt it is a random behaviour that is reinforced - there must at least be some initial tendency.

[@stevecummins324]

what happens if you decided before that if you get a strike you'd reward yourself, and if not you wouldn't? And then it turns out you do. Is that not in itself a kind of supersition?

[@carbonada11]

don´t forget Thorndike's "problem boxes" and "law of effect".

[@aaronmichealzz]

how do you explain the kid to her left? he doesn't do the same "lean" after his shots

[@ashleyrose4426]

there are bumpers so he does not need to worry about the ball going into the gutter like the other two.

[@johnjones8850]

He didn't lean at a time he was successful. So, he didn't associate the lean with a strike. Each person will develop their own superstition if they don't copy other people's superstitions. The boy later saw the lady get a strike when she leaned. So, he leaned later in the video.

[@ewroylong]

The book "How to Overcome Superstitions," which will be available in a few days on Amazon, explains it differently.

[@PenguinPop1981]

Let's make sure to make the distinction between behaviorism and Behavior Analysis.

[@Xakana]

This is exactly what I was thinking. It's not superstition. If the button lit up (or bell dinged, whatever acknowledgment the device gives), I know the elevator is coming. After that, I'm just being impatient or entertaining myself. Just like I don't think tilting my N64 controller is going to make my car(t) turn harder in a game, but I'm still going to do it because I'm excited and am fulfilling the need to do SOMETHING while I've done all I can to control the situation and it's on its own.

[@JimWestonInfowarrior]

Thank you for this great video!

[@chibified09]

excellent video

[@burneymaha92]

Edward L Thorndike was the first to study the effects of behaviorism.

[@Gymnopedie55]

True. Skinner was the founder of radical behaviorism, a different take on Watson's behaviorism.

[@antebellumraus3]

@Blucius13 true, but he founded radical behaviorism, which is probably what most people mean by behaviorism because they do not distinguish between methodological behaviorism and radical behaviorism.

[@alexcasanova5668]

great video!

[@MrAudacia]

on one level yes. but i found it interesting that at the quantum level, apparently we do influence things with our "observation". physics meets phsyc

[@kstock00]

Great post. Thanks.

[@magnusdier]

Great explanation

[@shoppittsburghnow]

interesting video and very informative

[@conniej2568]

Thanks :) I find this video very useful for my coursework :D

[@YTofficialAnonymous]

4:51 what the f*ck did i just saw ?? now what kind of LEAN is that LOL

[@Druidess4]

Nice video, thank you for explaining.

[@Stat1onary]

awesome just what I was looking for, thanks!

[@stipolandia]

Watson was the founder of behaviorism, not skinner.

[@bustedd66]

nope... skinner was the first to talk about behavior Watson was talking about reflexive reactions and conditioning... his work had nothing to do with learning and most of the responces conditioned where irrational

[@Dickot40k]

John Baker You are wrong. Watson was the founder of behaviorism. Skinner was the founder of Radical behaviorism. It's a big difference.

[@bustedd66]

Dani Rabbit I stand corrected my personality professor had dementia

[@bustedd66]

Dani Rabbit I stand corrected my personality professor had dementia

[@mollygolightly1]

Dani Rabbit John Baker I know it's a long time ago since you commented but it wasn't Skinner or Watson! The founder is Pawlow. And by the way: Skinner was very inspired of the beviorism of Thorndike

[@MizuChrista]

They couldn't get the animals to do what they wanted them to too. We wouldn't want to behave a certain way either by being rewarded with food if we weren't hungry.

[@Doggie650]

I gotta disagree. When you see a bowling ball going the WRONG way, you lean in HOPES you can influence the balls direction. Emotions affect behaviors first. That anticipation can causestress and in turn, potential obsessive behaviors.

[@KraNKy6]

check out 5.11 the dude on the left throwingt the Orange ball HOW THE FUCK DOES HE DO THAT?!?!?

[@sontobanganayi188]

It is incorrect to say that BF Skinner was the founder of Behaviourism,

[@tomdeone911]

Given that food is a necessity of life, and that animals know that it is needed to survive it would be deemed a suitable method, especially in the animal kingdom, where the meaning of their existence according to evolutionary terms is to live and pass their genes to as many or the most suitable mate. When you say starving, starving means near death without food. They where put to 75% of their body weight which is an ample amount of food, its only humans that feel they need to stuff their face.

[@JohnSmith-bx4gf]

the bowling example was unfortunate. she leans only one time. the video is repeated. it doesn't prove that she has leaned to influence the ball route. when it is only one corine left she doesn't lean at all.

[@johndwarstmer]

HAHAHA!!! 4:48 He really has got the leannnn!!!

[@zheenahaydari5145]

Im here because of Jordan Peterson s podcast 🐭

[@102farners]

That's exactly what i was thinking! haha

[@peddielicious6]

this vid was great i love it

[@emlmm88]

Skinner founded Radical Behaviorism, common misconception.

[@zolrac95]

jajajajja you condemned your daughter for life

[@slasher1271]

O.O good question

[@АйчурекШукурбекова]

Nope. Ivan Pavlov.

[@TheVenusProjectInfo]

no single person founded anything