1. Operant Conditioning Big Question: Is the organism learning associations between events that it does not control (classical) OR is it learning associations between its behavior and resulting events (operant) Module 19

2. Edward Thorndike (1874-1949) Introduced the “Law of Effect” Behaviors with favorable consequences will occur more frequently. Behaviors with unfavorable consequences will occur less frequently. Developed into Operant Conditioning Created puzzle boxes for research on cats

3. Thorndike’s Puzzle Box

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

5. B.F. Skinner (1904-1990) Developed the fundamental principles and techniques of operant conditioning. Devised ways to apply these principles in the real world. Designed the Skinner Box. (operant box)

6. B.F. SKINNER http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AepqpT tKbwo (Skinner discusses pigeons)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AepqpT tKbwo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGazyH 6fQQ4&feature=related (ping-pong)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGazyH 6fQQ4&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGazyH 6fQQ4&feature=related (pigeon v. human)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGazyH 6fQQ4&feature=related

7. Reinforcement v Punishment Reinforcement - Any consequence that increases the likelihood of the behavior to be repeated. Punishment - Any consequence that decreases the likelihood of the behavior to be repeated.

8. I.Reinforcement A. Types of Reinforcement

9. 1. 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

10. Positive Reinforcement

11. Operant Conditioning Activity: Positive Reinforcement Get in groups of three. Choose who will be the recorder, the experimenter, and the subject. Subjects please leave the room for a moment. Directions……

12. 2. 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 (Definition of Reinforcement) OR X X

13. Negative Reinforcement

14. Positive/Negative Reinforcement Positive Reinforcement-any condition that follows and strengthens a response. Getting a hug Receiving a paycheck Food, money, sex Attention, praise, smile Negative Reinforcement- subtraction of the unpleasant stimulus Fastening a seatbelt to turn off beeping. Pushing snooze button will silence your annoying alarm. Use umbrella to avoid getting wet.

15. II.Ways of Reinforcement: A. Primary v Secondary

16. A. 1. Primary Reinforcement Something that is naturally reinforcing Examples: food, warmth, water, etc. The item is reinforcing in and of itself

17. A. 2. 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 Cooking utensil

19. II. Ways of Reinforcement B. Shaping Step by step reinforcement of behaviors that are more and more similar to the one you want to occur. (Progress Reports, etc) Technique used to establish a new behavior

20. II. Ways of Reinforcement: C. Immediate v Delayed

21. C. Immediate/Delayed Reinforcement Immediate reinforcement is more effective than delayed reinforcement- however humans will respond to delayed reinforcement better than animals. Ability to delay gratification predicts higher achievement

22. II.Ways of Reinforcement D. Schedules of Reinforcement: 1. Continuous Reinforcement

23. D. 1. 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.

24. D. 2. Partial Reinforcement A schedule of reinforcement in which a reward follows only some correct responses-initial learning is slower but there is a greater resistance to extinction. Includes the following types: –Fixed-interval and variable interval –Fixed-ratio and variable-ratio

25. (a) 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; monthly pay check

26. (a) 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; fishing

27. (b) 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. Ex. Pay a worker a dollar for every 10 tires they fix

28. (b) 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; people who make sales pitches by telephone

29. Schedules of Reinforcement

30. III. Punishment: The Process of Punishment Decrease Decrease a behavior from happening again by following it with a negative consequence

31. II. A. Types of Punishment (1) An undesirable event following a behavior (2) A desirable state or event ends following a behavior

32. III. Punishment: B. Problems With Punishment Module 16: Operant Conditioning

33. II. B. 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.

34. II. C. 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

35. IV. The Role of Cognition: New Understandings of Operant Conditioning Module 16: Operant Conditioning

36. III. A. Latent Learning Learning that takes place in absence of an apparent reward

37. III. B. Cognitive Map A mental representation of a place Experiments showed rats could learn a maze without any reinforcements

38. III. C. Overjustification Effect The effect of promising a reward for doing what someone already likes to do The reward may lessen and replace the person’s original, natural motivation, so that the behavior stops if the reward is eliminated

39. The End