Operant Conditioning Module 27

Operant Conditioning Operant conditioning - A type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher. B.F. Skinner’s Experiments: Elaborated on Thorndike’s law of effect – behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely and behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely. Operant Chamber (“Skinner Box”) – chamber containing a bar/key that an animal can manipulate to obtain a food or water reinforcer; attached devices record the animal’s rate of bar pressing or key pecking. Reinforcement – any event that strengthens the behavior it follows Shaping – reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior Discriminative stimulus – stimulus that elicits a response after association with reinforcement

Operant conditioning Types of reinforcers: Positive reinforcement – increasing behaviors by presenting positive stimuli. Negative reinforcement – increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli Primary reinforcer – an innately reinforcing stimulus, such as one that satisfies a biological need Conditioned reinforcer – a stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer (secondary reinforcer) Immediate and delayed reinforcers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mt4N9GSBoMI (Big Bang Theory)

Operant conditioning Reinforcement schedule – a pattern that defines how often a desired response will be reinforced Continuous reinforcement – reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs Partial (intermittent) reinforcement – reinforcing a behavior only part of the time Slower acquisition Greater resistance to extinction compared to continuous

Operant conditioning Fixed-ratio – reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses Variable-ratio – reinforces a response after an unpredictable number responses Fixed-interval – reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed Variable-interval – reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals

Operant conditioning Punishment – an event that tends to decrease the behavior it follows Positive punishment – administering an aversive stimulus Negative punishment – withdrawing a desirable stimulus Physical punishment drawbacks: Punished behavior is suppressed, not forgotten Punishment teaches discrimination Punishment can teach fear Punishment may increase aggressiveness by modeling aggression as a way to cope with problems

Operant conditioning Physical punishment/yelling: Okay if used as a backup when other tactics aren’t working Punishment is effective if it is paired with reinforcement Punishment tells us what not to do; reinforcement tells us what to do Punishment can teach us to avoid Parents/teachers should focus on reinforcing desired behavior and ignoring unwanted behavior B.F. Skinner – criticized for neglecting people’s personal freedom but Skinner views reinforcement as a humane way to control behavior