1. Section 5: Operant Conditioning in Real Life
Chapter 9
Section 5: Operant Conditioning in Real Life

2. Operant principles can clear up many mysteries about why people behave as they do, & why they have trouble changing when they want to
If life at work at & at home remains full of the same old reinforcers, punishers, & discriminating stimuli, any new responses that have been acquired may fail to generalize

3. To help people change unwanted, dangerous, or self defeating habits, operant conditioning has been brought to classrooms, hospitals, factories, etc
Behavior modification
Toilet training, smoking, nail biting

4. The Pros & Cons of Punishment
When punishment works
Can deter young criminals from repeating their offenses
Severity didn’t matter- the consistency did

5. When Punishment Fails
People often administer punishment inappropriately or mindlessly.
The recipient often responds with anxiety, fear, or rage.
These negative emotional reactions can create more problems than the punishment solves
Being physically punished in childhood is a risk factor for depression, aggression, low self esteem & many other problems

6. Most misbehavior is hard to punish immediately.
The effectiveness can be temporary, & depend on the presence of the person who administers it
Most misbehavior is hard to punish immediately.
Punishment conveys little information.
Does not communicate what the person or animal should do

7. An action intended to punish may instead by reinforcing because it brings attention.
Most psychologists believe that punishment, especially severe, is a poor way to eliminate unwanted behavior in most situations

8. Guidelines to using punishments
It should not involve physical abuse
It should be accompanied by information about what kind of behavior would be appropriate
It should be followed, whenever possible, by the reinforcement of a desirable behavior

9. Alternative- extinction of the responses you want to discourage
Ignoring the behavior

10. The Problems with Rewards
Misuse of Rewards
Rewards must be tied to the behavior you are trying to increase
“Feel good” rewards
When rewards are dispensed indiscriminately, they become meaningless, because they no longer reinforce the desired behavior

11. Why Rewards Can Backfire
Most are extrinsic reinforcers
Reinforcers that are not inherently related to the action being reinforced, such as money, prizes, and praise.
Should be intrinsic reinforcers
Reinforcers that are inherently related to the action being reinforced, such as enjoyment of the task and satisfaction of accomplishment.

12. Turning Play Into Work
When preschoolers were promised a prize for drawing with felt- tip pens, the behavior increased.
After they got the prizes, they spent less time with pens than before the study began.
Figure 8.06 from
Wade, C., & Tavris, C. (2002). Invitation to Psychology, 2nd Ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

13. Why should extrinsic rewards undermine the pleasure of doing something?
When we are paid for an activity, we interpret it as work
We regard extrinsic rewards as controlling

14. Something raises the rate of responding above some optimal, enjoyable level
Extrinsic rewards do not always weaken the impact of intrinsic ones
If you enjoyed doing something before hand

15. Last thoughts about extrinsic rewards
Sometimes are necessary
Paid for work
Should be used sparingly

16. Operant v. classical conditioning examples