Operant Conditioning A type of learning in which behavior occurs more frequently if followed by reinforcement or occurs less frequently if followed by punishment. How is this different from classical conditioning? –In Classical Conditioning, an organism associates/connects two events that occur together at the same time. –In Operant Conditioning, an organism learns a behavior through reward or punishment. OPERANT CONDITIONINGCLASSICAL CONDITIONING Reward Punishment Association of events in time

Edward Thorndike Edward Thorndike performed experiments on cats He placed them in a puzzle box, used fish as a reward for escaping, and timed how long the escape process took Through trial and error, the cats figured out that pressing the level in the box (behavior) led to the reward of escape/fish (stimulus)

Law of Effect He coined the term “ Law of Effect ” which became the basis of operant conditioning Law of Effect: behavior that is followed by pleasant consequences is likely to be repeated; behavior that is followed by unpleasant consequences is likely to be stopped

OPERANT CONDITIONING REINFORCEMENT (increase behavior) PUNISHMENT (decrease behavior) POSITIVE (adding something to the situation) POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT POSITIVE PUNISHMENT NEGATIVE (removing something from the situation) NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT NEGATIVE PUNISHMENT

Reinforcement Anything that increases a behavior Can be positive or negative –Positive doesn ’ t mean good and negative doesn ’ t mean bad!!! –Positive means adding a stimulus; negative removes a stimulus Positive Reinforcement Negative Reinforcement You get an A on your test (positive stimulus), which increases your behavior of studying (reinforcement). You avoid getting a sun burn (negative stimulus), which increases your behavior of applying sunblock in the future (reinforcement). Other Examples???

Punishment Anything that decreases a behavior Can be positive or negative –Positive doesn ’ t mean good and negative doesn ’ t mean bad!!! –Positive means adding a stimulus; negative removes a stimulus Positive Punishment Negative Punishment You receive a speeding ticket (positive stimulus), which decreases your behavior of speeding (punishment). Your driving privileges are taken away for a year because you were caught driving drunk (negative stimulus). This decreases your behavior of drinking and driving (punishment). Other Examples???

What type of Operant Conditioning is this? Positive Reinforcement? –INCREASE behavior by the ADDING of a stimulus Negative Reinforcement? –INCREASE behavior by the REMOVING of a stimulus Positive Punishment? –DECREASE behavior by the ADDING of a stimulus Negative Punishment? –DECREASE behavior by the REMOVING of a stimulus Catching a largemouth bass after three hours of fishing

What type of Operant Conditioning is this? Positive Reinforcement? –INCREASE behavior by the ADDING of a stimulus Negative Reinforcement? –INCREASE behavior by the REMOVING of a stimulus Positive Punishment? –DECREASE behavior by the ADDING of a stimulus Negative Punishment? –DECREASE behavior by the REMOVING of a stimulus Being yelled at by your coach after you fumbled so you won’t fumble again

What type of Operant Conditioning is this? Positive Reinforcement? –INCREASE behavior by the ADDING of a stimulus Negative Reinforcement? –INCREASE behavior by the REMOVING of a stimulus Positive Punishment? –DECREASE behavior by the ADDING of a stimulus Negative Punishment? –DECREASE behavior by the REMOVING of a stimulus To get rid of an upset stomach your mom tells you to start taking Pepto Bismol

What type of Operant Conditioning is this? Positive Reinforcement? –INCREASE behavior by the ADDING of a stimulus Negative Reinforcement? –INCREASE behavior by the REMOVING of a stimulus Positive Punishment? –DECREASE behavior by the ADDING of a stimulus Negative Punishment? –DECREASE behavior by the REMOVING of a stimulus You lose your money in a soda machine. You decide the next time you will not use the same machine!

What type of Operant Conditioning is this? Positive Reinforcement? –INCREASE behavior by the ADDING of a stimulus Negative Reinforcement? –INCREASE behavior by the REMOVING of a stimulus Positive Punishment? –DECREASE behavior by the ADDING of a stimulus Negative Punishment? –DECREASE behavior by the REMOVING of a stimulus Giving your dog a treat for sitting on command

What type of Operant Conditioning is this? Positive Reinforcement? –INCREASE behavior by the ADDING of a stimulus Negative Reinforcement? –INCREASE behavior by the REMOVING of a stimulus Positive Punishment? –DECREASE behavior by the ADDING of a stimulus Negative Punishment? –DECREASE behavior by the REMOVING of a stimulus Your alarm rings to stop you from sleeping too long

What type of Operant Conditioning is this? Positive Reinforcement? –INCREASE behavior by the ADDING of a stimulus Negative Reinforcement? –INCREASE behavior by the REMOVING of a stimulus Positive Punishment? –DECREASE behavior by the ADDING of a stimulus Negative Punishment? –DECREASE behavior by the REMOVING of a stimulus You lose your cell phone after getting caught texting in class

What type of Operant Conditioning is this? Positive Reinforcement? –INCREASE behavior by the ADDING of a stimulus Negative Reinforcement? –INCREASE behavior by the REMOVING of a stimulus Positive Punishment? –DECREASE behavior by the ADDING of a stimulus Negative Punishment? –DECREASE behavior by the REMOVING of a stimulus Lifting weights to get in great physical shape

What type of Operant Conditioning is this? Positive Reinforcement? –INCREASE behavior by ADDING a stimulus Negative Reinforcement? –INCREASE behavior by REMOVING a stimulus Positive Punishment? –DECREASE behavior by ADDING a stimulus Negative Punishment? –DECREASE behavior by REMOVING a stimulus Lifting weights to lose weight Careful!! The way a scenario is worded can affect the answer. Lifting weights to get in shape = POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT Lifting weights to lose weight = NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT

Limitations of Punishment Punishment often only produces temporary suppression Punishment can produce undesirable emotional side effects