Question

Skinner and Bandura both studied how people learn and both devised theories based on their research and observation, but they came to somewhat different conclusions.

a) Describe the concept of “free will” and discuss how Skinner and Bandura thought about the concept

Answer 1

Free will is the idea that we are able to have some choice in how we act and assumes that we are free to choose our behavior, in other words we are self determined.For example, people can make a free choice as to whether to commit a crime or not (unless they are a child or they are insane). This does not mean that behavior is random, but we are free from the causal influences of past events. According to freewill a person is responsible for their own actions.One of the main assumptions of the humanistic approach is that humans have free will; not all behavior is determined. Personal agency is the humanistic term for the exercise of free will. Personal agency refers to the choices we make in life, the paths we go down and their consequences.Skinner reduced all human behavior to environmental operant conditioning and "reinforcement" of selected responses with rewards or punishment. ... And he was a physical determinist, as was Skinner.Skinner's major contribution to free will and morality came in 1971 with his book Beyond Freedom and Dignity.Skinner reduced all human behavior to environmental operant conditioning and "reinforcement" of selected responses with rewards or punishment. ... And he was a physical determinist, as was Skinner. Skinner's major contribution to free will and morality came in 1971 with his book Beyond Freedom and Dignity.External (environmental) determinism see the cause of behavior as being outside the individual, such as parental influence, the media, or school. Approaches which adopt this position include behaviorism and social learning theory.For example, Bandura (1961) showed that children become aggressive through observation and imitation of their violent parents.For example, people can make a free choice as to whether to commit a crime or not (unless they are a child or they are insane). This does not mean that behavior is random, but we are free from the causal influences of past events. According to freewill a person is responsible for their own actions.One of the main assumptions of the humanistic approach is that humans have free will; not all behavior is determined. Personal agency is the humanistic term for the exercise of free will. Personal agency refers to the choices we make in life, the paths we go down and their consequences.