Reference no: EM133278305

Question: Response to the discussion question with references B.F. Skinner was a behaviorist that created the theory of Operant Conditioning. The theory of Operant conditioning explains how the consequences of our actions influence whether the behavior will be repeated which makes up our learning process (Feist, 2020). Based on Skinner's theories on environmental control, humans learn by observing our environment, and behavior modifications are done only through changing the environment. In the case of social media, we can definitely apply this theory in the same way that we do not use profanity in front of our children because we do not want them to learn bad habits or words or as parents, we may not be honest about smoking, because we would not want our children to follow by poor examples. Skinner believed that conditioning is gained through our associations. I often feel the same way about my children and who they choose as friends and associates. My son just turned 27 years old, and he has his associates that he works with, and they smoke and drink he has shared with me on a few occasions that he has been invited to 'hang out' with them and he told me that he turns them down because he does not like to drink and smoke so why included himself in their actives. I often turn down invites to parties because I don't smoke, or drink and I am not sure I would enjoy myself. Technology has allowed children to look at social media and the internet.

There are long hours spent trying to associate themselves with the displayed observations. In short, I do believe that our behaviors can be associated with our environmental influences.