1. Introduction to Psychology, 7th Edition, Rod Plotnik Module 10: Operant & Cognitive Approaches Module 10 Operant & Cognitive Approaches

2. Introduction to Psychology, 7th Edition, Rod Plotnik Module 10: Operant & Cognitive Approaches Operant Conditioning –the consequences that follow some behavior increase or decrease the likelihood of that behavior’s occurrence in the future –BICOC (behavior is contingent on consequences) –Goal-directed behavior –Goal: increase or decrease the rate of some response –Voluntary/emitted/performed response Edward Lee Thorndike (cats in the puzzle box) Law of Effect--behaviors followed by positive consequences are strengthened, while behaviors followed by negative consequences are weakened Burrhus Frederic Skinner (Skinner box/rats) –Invented the Air Crib and a Pigeon-guided missile Thorndike states a general principle-Skinner explained how it worked and provided a way to measure

3. Introduction to Psychology, 7th Edition, Rod Plotnik Module 10: Operant & Cognitive Approaches Skinner Box Principles and procedures –Skinner box –automated to record the animal’s bar presses and deliver food pellets –an efficient way to study how an animal’s ongoing behaviors may be modified by changing the consequences of what happens after a bar press –3 factors in operant conditioning of a rat 1.a hungry rat will be more willing to eat the food reward 2.operant response: condition the rat to press the bar 3.shaping: procedure in which an experimenter successively reinforces behaviors that lead up to or approximate the desired behavior

4. Introduction to Psychology, 7th Edition, Rod Plotnik Module 10: Operant & Cognitive Approaches p215 SKINNER BOX

5. Introduction to Psychology, 7th Edition, Rod Plotnik Module 10: Operant & Cognitive Approaches OPERANT CONDITIONING (CONT.) Shaping (facing, touching, then pressing the bar) –Facing the bar rat is put in box. when rat finally faces the bar, food pellet is released rat sniffs the food pellet –Touching the bar rat faces and moves towards the bar another pellet is released. Rat eats then wanders. Returning to sniff for a pellet, another pellet is dropped into the cup. Rat places a paw on the bar and another pellet is released.

6. Introduction to Psychology, 7th Edition, Rod Plotnik Module 10: Operant & Cognitive Approaches OPERANT CONDITIONING (CONT.) Shaping –Pressing the bar When rat touches bar pellet is released. Rat eats and then puts paws back on bar and gets another pellet. Wait for rat to now push bar then release pellet. Rat soon presses bar over and over again to get pellets. Rat’s behavior was reinforced as the rat leads up to, or approximates, the desired behavior of bar pressing

7. Introduction to Psychology, 7th Edition, Rod Plotnik Module 10: Operant & Cognitive Approaches Virtual Rat

8. Introduction to Psychology, 7th Edition, Rod Plotnik Module 10: Operant & Cognitive Approaches Operant conditioning in the classroom Hot, hot…cold, cold activity Need one volunteer to step out of class for a moment Class chooses a behavior Volunteer returns Class shapes volunteer’s behavior by stating “HOT, HOT” or “COLD, COLD”

9. Introduction to Psychology, 7th Edition, Rod Plotnik Module 10: Operant & Cognitive Approaches OPERANT CONDITIONING (CONT.) Immediate reinforcement –reinforcer should follow immediately after the desired behavior –if reinforcer is delayed, the animal may be reinforced for some undesired or superstitious behavior Superstitious behavior –behavior that increases in frequency because its occurrence is accidentally paired with the delivery of a reinforcer

10. Introduction to Psychology, 7th Edition, Rod Plotnik Module 10: Operant & Cognitive Approaches OPERANT CONDITIONING (CONT.) Examples of operant conditioning –Toilet training, food refusal, increasing study target behavior preparation reinforcers shaping

11. Introduction to Psychology, 7th Edition, Rod Plotnik Module 10: Operant & Cognitive Approaches REINFORCERS (CONT.) Consequences –consequences are contingent on behavior Reinforcement –consequence that occurs after a behavior and increases the chance that the behavior will occur again Punishment –consequence that occurs after a behavior and decreases the chance that the behavior will occur again

12. Introduction to Psychology, 7th Edition, Rod Plotnik Module 10: Operant & Cognitive Approaches REINFORCERS (CONT.) Reinforcement –Positive reinforcement refers to the presentation of a stimulus that increases the probability that a behavior will occur again –Negative reinforcement refers to an aversive stimulus whose removal increases the likelihood that the preceding response will occur again

13. Introduction to Psychology, 7th Edition, Rod Plotnik Module 10: Operant & Cognitive Approaches Reinforcement & Punishment Positive Reinforcement Negative Reinforcement Negative Punishment Positive Punishment 1.A child swears and is spanked. 2.A person takes an aspirin to get rid of a headache. 3.A teenager is put on restriction for taking the car without asking. 4.A student studies and gets an A. Reinforcement = increases behavior Punishment = decreases behavior Positive = giving / adding to Negative = taking away

14. Introduction to Psychology, 7th Edition, Rod Plotnik Module 10: Operant & Cognitive Approaches Reinforcement = increases behavior Punishment = decreases behavior Positive = giving / adding to Negative = taking away Positive Reinforcement A Negative Reinforcement Aspirin Negative Punishment Take-away Positive Punishment Spanking

15. Introduction to Psychology, 7th Edition, Rod Plotnik Module 10: Operant & Cognitive Approaches REINFORCERS (CONT.) Reinforcers –Primary reinforcers stimulus such as food, water, or sex, that is innately satisfying and requires no learning on the part of the subject to become pleasurable –Secondary reinforcers any stimulus that has acquired its reinforcing power through experience; secondary reinforcers are learned, such as by being paired with primary reinforcers or other secondary reinforcers (Examples: coupons, money, grades, praise, pizza party, etc.)

16. Introduction to Psychology, 7th Edition, Rod Plotnik Module 10: Operant & Cognitive Approaches REINFORCERS (CONT.) Punishment –Positive punishment refers to presenting an aversive (unpleasant) stimulus after a response –Negative punishment refers to removing a reinforcing stimulus after a response

17. Introduction to Psychology, 7th Edition, Rod Plotnik Module 10: Operant & Cognitive Approaches Cognitive Learning Cognitive learning –involves mental processes, such as attention and memory Albert Bandura (Bobo doll) –children who had watched the film of an adult modeling aggressive behavior played more aggressively than children who had not seen the film –learning through observation or imitation

18. Introduction to Psychology, 7th Edition, Rod Plotnik Module 10: Operant & Cognitive Approaches COGNITIVE LEARNING Three viewpoints of cognitive learning –against: B. F. Skinner –Skinner said, “As far as I’m concerned, cognitive science is the creationism (downfall) of psychology”. –in favor: Edward Tolman –explored hidden mental processes –cognitive map: a mental representation in the brain of the layout of an environment and its features

19. Introduction to Psychology, 7th Edition, Rod Plotnik Module 10: Operant & Cognitive Approaches COGNITIVE LEARNING (CONT.) Three viewpoints of cognitive learning –in favor: Albert Bandura –Bandura focused on how humans learn through observing things Social cognitive learning theory –results from watching, and modeling and does not require the observer to perform any observable behavior or receive any observable reward

20. Introduction to Psychology, 7th Edition, Rod Plotnik Module 10: Operant & Cognitive Approaches COGNITIVE LEARNING (CONT.) Four processes: Attention, Memory, Imitation, Motivation –Attention observer must pay attention to what the model says or does –Memory observer must store or remember the information so that it can be retrieved and used later

21. Introduction to Psychology, 7th Edition, Rod Plotnik Module 10: Operant & Cognitive Approaches COGNITIVE LEARNING (CONT.) Bandura’s social cognitive theory Four processes (cont.) –Imitation observer must be able to use the remembered information to guide his or her own actions and thus imitate the model’s behavior –Motivation observer must have some reason or incentive to imitate the model’s behavior.

22. Introduction to Psychology, 7th Edition, Rod Plotnik Module 10: Operant & Cognitive Approaches COGNITIVE LEARNING (CONT.) Insight learning –Insight a mental process marked by the sudden and expected solution to a problem: a phenomenon often called the “ah-ha!” experience. Thorndike tried to show cats learned through insight

23. Introduction to Psychology, 7th Edition, Rod Plotnik Module 10: Operant & Cognitive Approaches BIOLOGICAL FACTORS Definition –Biological factors refer to innate tendencies or predispositions that may either facilitate or inhibit certain kinds of learning –Imprinting refers to inherited tendencies or responses that are displayed by newborn animals when they encounter certain stimuli in their environment