Section 5: Operant Conditioning in Real Life Chapter 9 Section 5: Operant Conditioning in Real Life
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
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
The Pros & Cons of Punishment When punishment works Can deter young criminals from repeating their offenses Severity didn’t matter- the consistency did
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
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
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
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
Alternative- extinction of the responses you want to discourage Ignoring the behavior
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
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.
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.
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
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
Last thoughts about extrinsic rewards Sometimes are necessary Paid for work Should be used sparingly
Operant v. classical conditioning examples