MOI UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
DEPARTMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY, SOCIOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY
SPY 211
PSYCHOLOGY OF PERSONALITY
LECTURER: MD JULIET NJERI.
PRESENTED BY:
Name REG. No Signature
1. Albert Osito PSY/1525/25
2. Cynthia kosgei PSY/6902/25
3. Joyce Moraa PSY/1494/25
4. Mary Ann Nyaboke PSY/1403/24
5. Brian Lukorito SW/1454/24
6. Scholasticah CP/6446/25
Macharia
7. Billy Paul Oduor Psy/1439/24
8. Abigael Wanini Psy/1446/25
9. Taliah Yvonne BA/0686/25
10. Carol Marion CP/7404/25
11. Eugine Nalianya cp/1148/25
12. Moses Avugasu CP/2854/25
TASK: B.F. SKINNER’S BEHAVIORIST VIEW OF PERSONALIT Y
DATE OF SUBMISSION: Tuesday 2nd December 2025
Core Idea – Personality as Learned Behavior
, B.F. Skinner’s understanding of personality is rooted in the idea that personality is not an internal set
of characteristics or traits but rather a collection of learned behaviors. People act in consistent ways
because they have been conditioned to behave like that over time. The behaviors that we repeatedly
perform are those that were reinforced in our past. This means that what people typically refer to as
a “personality trait” is simply a pattern of behavior that has been strengthened and repeated across
different environments.
Skinner emphasized that personality has no inner essence. Instead, it is simply the outward
expression of behaviors shaped by the environment. He believed that the idea of a personality trait is
a shorthand description of behaviors that have become stable due to reinforcement. This view
fundamentally shifts the understanding of personality from internal causes to external influences.
Example: If a child grows up in a home where politeness is praised and rewarded, they may
consistently demonstrate courteous behavior. Over time, people might describe this child as “polite,”
but according to Skinner, this politeness is not an inherent personality trait; it is a learned behavior
built through reinforcement.
Radical Behaviorism – Skinner’s Approach
Skinner’s radical behaviorism goes beyond traditional behaviorism by considering not only
observable behaviors but also private events such as thoughts and feelings. However, he maintained
that even these internal events do not explain behavior; they are themselves learned and shaped by
reinforcement.
Skinner argued that to understand behavior scientifically, psychology must focus on what can be
observed and measured. This excludes hypothetical internal constructs such as motives, traits, or
unconscious desires. Instead of asking why someone feels a certain way, Skinner insisted that we
should ask what environmental conditions caused both the behavior and the feeling.
According to Skinner, internal explanations such as “he is angry by nature” or “she is born shy” are
unscientific because they do not point to actual causes of behavior. The real causes lie in
reinforcement history, current environmental conditions, and the consequences that follow behavior.
Example: If someone says “I eat when I’m stressed,” a Skinnerian explanation would focus on the
person’s learning history, perhaps eating previously relieved discomfort or produced comfort,
reinforcing the behavior.
Operant Conditioning – How Personality Is Formed
Operant conditioning is the central process through which all behavior, including personality is
shaped. Unlike classical conditioning, which pairs stimuli to elicit reflexive responses, operant
conditioning focuses on how behaviors are influenced by their consequences. Behaviors that
produce favorable outcomes are strengthened, while behaviors followed by unfavorable outcomes
are weakened. This learning process occurs throughout life, shaping both simple and complex
patterns of behavior.
Skinner identified three primary types of consequences that affect behavior:
1. Reinforcement: Increases the likelihood of behavior.
SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
DEPARTMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY, SOCIOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY
SPY 211
PSYCHOLOGY OF PERSONALITY
LECTURER: MD JULIET NJERI.
PRESENTED BY:
Name REG. No Signature
1. Albert Osito PSY/1525/25
2. Cynthia kosgei PSY/6902/25
3. Joyce Moraa PSY/1494/25
4. Mary Ann Nyaboke PSY/1403/24
5. Brian Lukorito SW/1454/24
6. Scholasticah CP/6446/25
Macharia
7. Billy Paul Oduor Psy/1439/24
8. Abigael Wanini Psy/1446/25
9. Taliah Yvonne BA/0686/25
10. Carol Marion CP/7404/25
11. Eugine Nalianya cp/1148/25
12. Moses Avugasu CP/2854/25
TASK: B.F. SKINNER’S BEHAVIORIST VIEW OF PERSONALIT Y
DATE OF SUBMISSION: Tuesday 2nd December 2025
Core Idea – Personality as Learned Behavior
, B.F. Skinner’s understanding of personality is rooted in the idea that personality is not an internal set
of characteristics or traits but rather a collection of learned behaviors. People act in consistent ways
because they have been conditioned to behave like that over time. The behaviors that we repeatedly
perform are those that were reinforced in our past. This means that what people typically refer to as
a “personality trait” is simply a pattern of behavior that has been strengthened and repeated across
different environments.
Skinner emphasized that personality has no inner essence. Instead, it is simply the outward
expression of behaviors shaped by the environment. He believed that the idea of a personality trait is
a shorthand description of behaviors that have become stable due to reinforcement. This view
fundamentally shifts the understanding of personality from internal causes to external influences.
Example: If a child grows up in a home where politeness is praised and rewarded, they may
consistently demonstrate courteous behavior. Over time, people might describe this child as “polite,”
but according to Skinner, this politeness is not an inherent personality trait; it is a learned behavior
built through reinforcement.
Radical Behaviorism – Skinner’s Approach
Skinner’s radical behaviorism goes beyond traditional behaviorism by considering not only
observable behaviors but also private events such as thoughts and feelings. However, he maintained
that even these internal events do not explain behavior; they are themselves learned and shaped by
reinforcement.
Skinner argued that to understand behavior scientifically, psychology must focus on what can be
observed and measured. This excludes hypothetical internal constructs such as motives, traits, or
unconscious desires. Instead of asking why someone feels a certain way, Skinner insisted that we
should ask what environmental conditions caused both the behavior and the feeling.
According to Skinner, internal explanations such as “he is angry by nature” or “she is born shy” are
unscientific because they do not point to actual causes of behavior. The real causes lie in
reinforcement history, current environmental conditions, and the consequences that follow behavior.
Example: If someone says “I eat when I’m stressed,” a Skinnerian explanation would focus on the
person’s learning history, perhaps eating previously relieved discomfort or produced comfort,
reinforcing the behavior.
Operant Conditioning – How Personality Is Formed
Operant conditioning is the central process through which all behavior, including personality is
shaped. Unlike classical conditioning, which pairs stimuli to elicit reflexive responses, operant
conditioning focuses on how behaviors are influenced by their consequences. Behaviors that
produce favorable outcomes are strengthened, while behaviors followed by unfavorable outcomes
are weakened. This learning process occurs throughout life, shaping both simple and complex
patterns of behavior.
Skinner identified three primary types of consequences that affect behavior:
1. Reinforcement: Increases the likelihood of behavior.
