Understanding Superstitious Behavior Through Operant Conditioning Experiments

Explore the phenomenon of superstitious behavior through the lens of operant conditioning experiments conducted by behaviorists like B.F. Skinner. Discover how noncontingent reinforcement can lead to the development of superstitious beliefs in both humans and animals, as demonstrated in various studies and real-life examples.

• Superstitious behavior
• Operant conditioning
• B.F. Skinner
• Reinforcement
• Behavioral psychology

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1. Knock Wood Presented by Anna DiFelice and Megan Dern

2. Background B. F. Skinner Father of Radical Behaviorism Skinner Box Environment Consequences Reinforcers vs. Punishers Extinction

3. Question: Does being superstitious require thinking, knowing, and reasoning? Hypothesis: Operant Conditioning has much to do with superstitious behavior.

4. Theory Knocking on wood, avoiding walking under ladders, stepping on sidewalk cracks, etc. Why do people gain superstitious behaviors? Noncontingent Reinforcement

5. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtfQlkGwE2U Experiment Method: -Skinner Box -Skinner used Pigeons -Positive reinforcements -Intervals Results: -6/8 trials -Superstitious behaviors -The pigeons believed whatever they were doing affected whether or not they got food -Extinction

6. Discussion Bowling: -twist and turn your arm -your arm has no effect on the ball -ball s movement in addition to the consequence creates superstition The effect of high expectations and extinction

7. Another Example 1961 Bruner and Revuski Experiment: -Four Students sit in front of four buttons -Reinforcement every 10 seconds -They all developed a superstitious pattern

8. More Recently 1998 Sagvolden experiment based off of Skinner s findings ADHD boys vs. non- ADHD boys