Operant Conditioning

1. Operant Conditioning Praising child and quit your nagging are comparable

2. Objectives: the STUDENT WILL • Define Operant Conditioning • Who is Edward Thorndike? • Compare and contrast reinforces and Punishments • Compare and contrast + &- punishments

3. chapter 9 Operant conditioning The process by which a response becomes more or less likely to occur depending on its consequences

4. Operant Conditioning • Based on consequences • Edward Thorndike (1898)- observed cats trying to escape puzzle box. Thus first behaviorist • Saw cats bite, scratch, claw= unorganized BUT then after few minutes… loosen bolt, pull a string, hit a button to escape • Law of effect- Trial and error learning

5. Rewards and consequences • Operant- An observable behavior that an organism uses to ‘operate’ in, or have an effect on, the environment. • Operant conditioning-A form of learning in which behavior change is brought about by the consequences of behavior

6. Core Concept • In operant conditioning, the consequences of behavior, such as rewards and punishments, influence the chance that the behavior will occur again • Common rewards- money, praise, high grades, food • Punishments- pain, loss of privileges, low grades

7. chapter 9 Consequences of behavior A neutral consequence neither increases nor decreases the probability that the response will recur. Reinforcement: strengthens the response or makes it more likely to recur Punishment: weakens a response or makes it less likely to recur

8. chapter 9 Reinforcement A stimulus strengthens or increases the probability of the response that it follows. Primary reinforcers are inherently reinforcing and typically satisfy a physiological need. Secondary reinforcers are stimuli that have acquired reinforcing properties through associations with other reinforcers.

9. The Power of Reinforcement • Reinforce- any condition that follows and strengthens a response. • For example- food, money, sex • Attention, praise, smile are examples of positive reinforcement • P.R.- Strengthens a response by occurring after the response and making the behavior more likely to occur again

10. OTOH • Negative Reinforcement-(subtract or remove) of unpleasant or aversive stimulus • For example when you plug in your seat belt the annoying buzzer stops ( or is removed) • Nagging

11. Primary and Secondary Reinforces • Primary- Food, Sex, Drink • Secondary reinforces- Money, status, awards • Token Economy- Give plastic tokens, or tickets, that can buy later rewards

12. Preferred Activities as Reinforces: The Premack Principal • Reward (workout) for getting tasks done. • Children will sit still to run later • Premack (1965) used rats. discovered that rats ran more to achieve a drink

13. chapter 9 Types of reinforcement Positive reinforcement When a pleasant consequence follows a response, making the response more likely to recur. Negative reinforcement When an unpleasant consequence is removed following a response, making the response more likely to recur.

14. chapter 9 Punishment The process by which a stimulus weakens or reduces the probability of the response that it follows. Primary punishers are inherently punishing. Secondary reinforcers are stimuli that have acquired punishing properties through associations with other punishers.

15. 2 main types punishment: Positive-Negative • Positive-requires application of an Aversive stimulus. • For example: Touching a hot burner, extra chores, extra conditioning • Omission or Negative- Removal of the reinforcement • For example: Parents take away car keys

16. chapter 9 Types of punishment Positive punishment When an unpleasant consequence follows a response, making the response less likely to recur. Negative punishment When an pleasant consequence is removed following a response, making the response less likely to recur.

17. Punishment vs. Negative Reinforcement • Both involve unpleasant stimuli • Negative reinforcement- Loud noise is removed • Punishment- Loud noise follows pushing lever • Both increase likely hood of desired response

18. chapter 9 Your turn Your first time camping in the woods, you are bitten over 45 times by mosquitoes, resulting in lots of swollen, itchy bumps on your arms, legs, and back. You never want to go camping again. What kind of consequence did you confront on your first camping experience? 1. Positive reinforcement 2. Negative reinforcement 3. Positive punishment 4. Negative punishment

19. chapter 9 Your turn Your first time camping in the woods, you are bitten over 45 times by mosquitoes, resulting in lots of swollen, itchy bumps on your arms, legs, and back. You never want to go camping again. What kind of consequence did you confront on your first camping experience? 1. Positive reinforcement 2. Negative reinforcement 3. Positive punishment 4. Negative punishment

20. Summary • Operant Conditioning • Thorndike • Reinforce • Punishment