OPERANT CONDITIONING “Everything we do and are is determined by our history of rewards and punishments.” B.F. Skinner

Operant Conditioning A type of learning in which frequency of the behavior depends on consequences of behavior.

B.F. Skinner ( ) *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 (mice, pigeons) & Skinner Air Crib (humans)

Skinner Box (operant conditioning chamber)

B.F. Skinner Skinner Box: small experimental chamber. Animal presses a bar or pecks to release a food reward.

Skinner Air Crib Crib designed by BF Skinner- Perfect environment will raise perfect kids… Temperature controlled, filtered air, no clothes

SKINNER’S RULES Create conditions that make emitting that target behavior easily and likely. Positively reinforce the target behavior with appropriate reinforcers immediately. Avoid punishment Use effective schedule of reinforcement

REINFORCEMENT vs PUNISHMENT Reinforcement (positive or negative)- Any consequence that INCREASES the future likelihood of the behavior. Punishment – Decreases the chances behavior will happen again.

Positive reinforcement Anything that increases the likelihood of behavior by following it with a desirable event. ADD something desirable Ex. Money, compliment, E.C, candy

Negative reinforcement Anything that increases the likelihood of a behavior by following it with the REMOVAL of something undesirable Ex. Headache/meds, mom/nag, torture, Seatbelt ding in car

PUNISHMENT Definition: an unpleasant consequence occurs and decreases the frequency of behavior, Ex. time out, tardies Problems? Anxiety, low self esteem

Learned helplessness People or animals that feel hopeless because they cannot avoid repeated bad events. Ex. Dogs in individual chambers received shocks Some dogs could jump over barriers, others were restrained to prevent escape. Restrained dogs learned to be helpless… Depression happens when people have no control Over their environment

Operant Conditioning Terms Shaping: positively reinforce behaviors that move closer and closer to the target behavior Chaining: Trainers establish a chain of responses leading to a reward

Schedules of Reinforcement Continuous Reinforcement: Each time a behavior occurs, reinforcement is given Intermittent Reinforcement: Reward only some responses

Schedules of Reinforcement Fixed-Ratio Schedule- a specific number of correct responses are required before reinforcement can be obtained. Ex. Buy 2 get 1 free, tardies Variable-Ratio Schedule- a different number of responses are required before reinforcement can be obtained each time. Ex. gamblers

Schedules Cont. Fixed-Interval Schedule- a specific amount of time must elapse before a response will elicit reinforcement. Ex. Check, weekly test Variable-Interval Schedule- changing amounts of time must elapse before a response will obtain reinforcement. Ex. fish, hunt, pop quiz

Schedules of Reinforcement

Social Learning