Operant Conditioning

Intro to Operant conditioning vOf90http:// vOf90

Operant Conditioning A type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by reinforcement or diminished if followed by punishment.

Is the organism learning associations between events that it doesn’t control? Is the organism learning associations between its behavior and resulting events? Classical Conditioning Operant Conditioning

Edward Thorndike Law of Effect: rewarded behavior is likely to recur. One of the few laws in psychology

B.F. Skinner

Shaping A procedure in Operant Conditioning in which reinforcers guide behavior closer and closer towards a goal.

Reinforcer Any event that STRENGTHENS the behavior it follows. Two Types of Reinforcement: Positive and Negative

Positive Reinforcement Strengthens a response by presenting a stimulus after a response i.e. A reward

Negative Reinforcement Strengthens a response by reducing or removing an aversive stimulus.

Examples of negative reinforcers Putting up an umbrella to stop (or avoid) getting wet in the rain. Putting on your seatbelt to turn off that #$%^&* buzzer. Paying taxes to avoid audits and unpleasant visits from the "tax man" Giving your children candy, toys, etc., to make them stop whining Taking out trash, washing dishes, etc., to end or prevent nagging by spouse Obeying posted speed limits (within reasonable tolerance) to avoid citations. Feigning agreement to end an argument Taking aspirin (or whatever) to terminate a headache Drinking to "ease the pain" Leaving an unpleasant party, motion picture, faculty meeting..

Types of Reinforcers

Primary Reinforcer An innately reinforcing stimulus- Usually food, drink, sleep

Conditioned (Secondary) Reinforcer A stimulus that gains it reinforcing power through its association with a stimulus

Different Reinforcers Primary: Getting food when hungry, drink when thirsty. These are unlearned- innately satisfying Secondary reinforcers are conditioned reinforcers They are learned through association Examples: money, grades, stickers,

Immediate v. Delayed Reinforcers

Reinforcement Schedules

Continuous Reinforcement Reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs. Quick Acquisition Quick Extinction

Partial Reinforcement Reinforcing a response only part of the time. The acquisition process is slower. Greater resistance to extinction.

Fixed-ratio Schedules A schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses. Example: I give cookie monster a cookie every FIVE times he sings “C is for cookie”.

Variable-ratio Schedule A schedule of reinforcement that reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses. Example: I give Homer a donut at random times when he says “DOH!!!”

Fixed-interval Schedule A schedule of reinforcement that reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed. Example: I give Bart a Butterfinger every ten minutes after he moons someone.

Variable-interval Schedule A schedule of reinforcement that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals. Pop Quizzes

Video of Reinforcers 2wn- 2rY&list=PL2920A92123EAF834&index=2 5&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mod e=1&safe=activehttp:// 2wn- 2rY&list=PL2920A92123EAF834&index=2 5&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mod e=1&safe=active

Punishment An event that DECREASES the behavior that it follows.

Punishment Positive Giving something: Spanking, parking ticket Negative Removal of something: Time out, losing a driver’s license, grounding

Does punishment work Suppress behavior not forgotten Teaches discrimination- swear but not at home Teaches fear- learn to fear the punisher Physical punishment may increase aggressive behavior also models bad behavior

More Skinner Latent learning- learning becomes apparent only when there is an incentive to demonstrate it. Example_ children may learn something from a parent but demonstrate it later in life Insight learning – AHHA experience. Figure out a problem after a period of time Motivation Intrinsic- desire comes from within Extrinsic- desire comes from outside for a reward or to avoid punishment

Biological predispositions Instinctual drift – the reverting back to a biologically predisposed pattern If you do not reward the dolphins at Mystic they will not jump through a hoop

Observational learning Called social learning- learn by observing and imitating others Modeling- process of observing and imitating specific behavior Mirror neurons- in the frontal lobe fire when doing a specific task or observing others doing the task. Enables imitation and empathy

Bandura VtHbUhttp:// VtHbU View video in Myer’s pack

Applying Observational Behavior Prosocial Be a good role model Martin Luther King, Gandhi, Be consistent in words and deeds Antisocial TV and violence Use video tool kit Violence viewing effect has 2 factors: Imitation desensitization

Supernanny ZpgQ6a4ohttp:// ZpgQ6a4o