Skinner and Harlow's competing theories of behavioral motivation

¶ … Skinner and Harlow to Investigating Influences on Behaviors.

One of the most common challenges for psychologists is: understanding the underlying motivations behind specific behavior. This is because there are a wide variety of theories that are providing different interpretations surrounding the primary causes. A good example of this can be seen with disparities in the philosophies of Skinner and Harlow in explaining human motivation. To fully understand each theory requires comparing and contrasting both approaches with one another. These elements will offer the greatest insights about the rationale behind individual behavior.

Skinner

Skinner was focused on the behaviorist approach. This is when there is an emphasis on how the actions (i.e. thoughts, feelings and deeds) of an individual will influence their conduct. According to Skinner, everyone is impacted by these actions throughout the course of their lives with a principal known as operant conditioning. This takes place based upon positive reinforcement that is received and punishments for behavior that is unacceptable. The desire to move towards more positive rewards and away from penance will motivate specific thoughts and actions. (BF Skinner 2011) (Johnston 1993, pp. 8 -- 18)

Skinner vs. Harlow

A comparison of Skinner with Harlow, revels that Harlow was influenced by the ideas of Abraham Maslow. He said that everyone is motivated based on fulfilling specific needs to include: physiological, security, social, esteem and self-actualization. According to Maslow, each person will be motivated by addressing their needs on a certain level. Once this has been completed, is when they will move up to a higher level until they reach self-actualization. These ideas were used to provide a foundation for further understanding human behavior (i.e. The need for intimate emotional connections with people). As a result, this helps further explain the thought patterns behind specific behavior. (Cherry 2012)

This is different from Skinner, who believes that positive or negative reinforcement will influence the way someone reacts to various stimuli. This is because the feelings and emotions associated with an event will have an impact on driving them towards specific behavior. This is when the person will begin to automatically move towards influences that will provide them with: some kind of positive benefit and avoid anything that is a punishment. These different philosophies are showing how most individuals will have a combination of factors that are influencing their behavior. As a result, both ideas are illustrating specific areas that will impact the way someone is reacting to a host of events.