Thinking About Psychology: The Science of Mind and Behavior

1. Thinking About Psychology: The Science of Mind and Behavior Charles T. Blair-Broeker Randal M. Ernst

2. Operant Conditioning Module 16

3. Operant Conditioning • A type of learning in which the frequency of a behavior depends on the consequence that follows that behavior • The frequency will increase if the consequence is reinforcing to the subject. • The frequency will decrease if the consequence is not reinforcing to the subject.

4. Difference between Classical and Operant conditioning • Classical • * involuntary response (something you must do – ex?) • Learned association between stimuli • Operant • Voluntary response • Based on a consequence – reward or punishment

5. The Law of Effect Module 16: Operant Conditioning

6. Edward Thorndike (1874-1949) • Author of the law of effect • Behaviors with favorable consequences will occur more frequently. • Behaviors with unfavorable consequences will occur less frequently. • Created puzzle boxes for research on cats

7. Thorndike’s Puzzle Box What is the voluntary response?

8. B.F. Skinner (1904-1990) • Developed the fundamental principles and techniques of operant conditioning and devised ways to apply them in the real world • Designed the Skinner Box, or operant chamber

9. Operant Chamber Using Thorndike's law of effect as a starting point, Skinner developed the Operant chamber, or the Skinner box, to study operant conditioning. From The Essentials of Conditioning and Learning, 3rd Edition by Michael P. Domjan, 2005. Used with permission by Thomson Learning, Wadsworth Division Walter Dawn/ Photo Researchers, Inc.

10. Reinforcement/Punishment • Reinforcement - Any consequence that increases the likelihood of the behavior it follows • Punishment - Any consequence that decreases the likelihood of the behavior it follows • The subject determines if a consequence is reinforcing or punishing (ex. go to your room)

11. Reinforcement Module 16: Operant Conditioning

12. Positive Reinforcement • Anything that increases the likelihood of a behavior by following it with a desirable event or state • The subject receives something they want • Will strengthen the behavior

13. Positive Reinforcement

14. Positive reinforcement • With a partner, come up with one example of positive reinforcement for: • A kid • A teenager • An adult

15. Negative Reinforcement • Anything that increases the likelihood of a behavior by following it with the removal of an undesirable event or state • Something the subject doesn’t like is removed • Will strengthen the behavior

16. Negative Reinforcement

17. Negative reinforcement • With a partner, come up with on example of negative reinforcement for: • A kid • A teenager • An adult

18. Positive/Negative Reinforcement

19. Big Bang Theory clip • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guroaQRFsX4

20. Analyze Charts of Reinforcement

21. Reinforcement: Immediate Versus Delayed Reinforcement Module 16: Operant Conditioning

22. Immediate & Delayed Reinforcers • Immediate Reinforcer:A reinforcer that occurs instantly after a behavior. A rat gets a food pellet for a bar press. (30 seconds) • Delayed Reinforcer:A reinforcer that is delayed in time for a certain behavior. A paycheck that comes at the end of a week. • Which is more effective? • Which leads to higher achievement? • Which do you prefer?

23. Reinforcement: Primary Versus Secondary Reinforcement Module 16: Operant Conditioning

24. Primary Reinforcement • Something that is naturally reinforcing • Examples: food, warmth, water, etc. • The item is reinforcing in and of itself • Ex. You want to train your dog to “shake”. What do you give it to reinforce the desired behavior?

26. Secondary Reinforcement • Something that a person has learned to value or finds rewarding because it is paired with a primary reinforcer • Money is a good example because? • But, your dog doesn’t want money. What could be a secondary reinforcer for a dog?

28. Punishment:The Process of Punishment Module 16: Operant Conditioning

29. Types of Punishment • An undesirable event following a behavior (positive or negative?) • A desirable state or event ends following a behavior (positive or negative?)

31. Analyze Punishment Charts

32. PUNISHMENT • REMEMBER: • POSITIVE IS TO ADD • NEGATIVE IS TO SUBTRACT • DO NOT THINK IN TERMS OF GOOD AND BAD!

33. Punishment Examples Come up with an example of Negative Punishment For a toddler For a teenager For an adult • Come up with an example of Positive Punishment • For a toddler • For a teenager • For an adult

34. Punishment examples • Write down about time when you were punished. • What were the immediate and lasting effects? • Did the punishment fit the crime? • Did the punishment decrease the behavior?

35. Positive Effects of Punishment • Punishment can effectively control certain behaviors. • Especially useful if teaching a child not to do a dangerous behavior • Most still suggest reinforcing an incompatible behavior rather than using punishment

36. Negative Effects of Punishment • Doesn’t prevent the undesirable behavior when away from the punisher • Can lead to fear, anxiety, and lower self-esteem • Children who are punished physically may learn to use aggression as a means to solve problems.

37. GUIDELINES IN USING PUNISHMENT • Specify why • Concentrate on behavior not the person • Should be immediate and strong enough without being too strong • Be careful of escalation (if punishment is not given early enough, bad behavior escalates • Combine with other behavior

38. Some Reinforcement Procedures:Shaping Module 16: Operant Conditioning

39. Activity

40. Shaping • Reinforcement of behaviors that are more and more similar to the one you want to occur • Technique used to establish a new behavior

41. Schedules of Reinforcement: Continuous Reinforcement Module 16: Operant Conditioning

42. Continuous reinforcement • A schedule of reinforcement in which a reward follows every correct response • Most useful way to establish a behavior • The behavior will extinguish quickly once the reinforcement stops.

43. Schedules of Reinforcement: Partial Reinforcement Module 16: Operant Conditioning

44. Partial Reinforcement • A schedule of reinforcement in which a reward follows only some correct responses • Includes the following types: • Fixed-interval and variable interval • Fixed-ratio and variable-ratio

45. PARTIAL OR INTERMITTENT REINFORCEMENT TERMS • Fixed - Never changing • Variable - Changing • Interval - Having to do with time • Ratio - Having to do with behavior or performance

46. Fixed-Interval Schedule • A partial reinforcement schedule that rewards only the first correct response after some defined period of time • i.e. weekly quiz in a class

47. Variable-Interval Schedule • A partial reinforcement that rewards the first correct response after an unpredictable amount of time • i.e. “pop” quiz in a class

48. Fixed-Ratio Schedule • A partial reinforcement schedule that rewards a response only after some defined number of correct responses • The faster the subject responds, the more reinforcements they will receive.

49. Variable-Ratio Schedule • A partial reinforcement schedule that rewards an unpredictable number of correct responses • This schedule is very resistant to extinction. • Sometimes called the “gambler’s schedule”; similar to a slot machine

50. Schedules of Reinforcement