1. Operant Conditioning

2. Operant Conditioning
Operant behavior  Behavior designed to operate in the environment in a way that will gain something desired or avoid something unpleasant.
This behavior is usually voluntary.

3. Edward Lee Thorndike Experiment Operant Learning with Cats.
Puzzle box for cats big enough to move around but not big enough to be comfortable.

5. CATS
Hungry cats were placed one at a time in the puzzle box, a bit of food was placed just outside the cage. To get the food the cat had to open the latch on the cage.
Thorndike timed how long it took the cats to get out.

7. CATS The Lock was changed each time.
Each time the cat was placed in the puzzle box it would complete the puzzle faster and faster.

8. Operant Conditioning Operant Response  Something we choose
Reinforcers  A stimulus that follows a behavior and increases the likelihood that the behavior will be repeated.
CATS = Freedom or Food

9. Operant Conditioning
Punishers  A stimulus that follows a behavior and decreases the likelihood that the behavior will be repeated.
Ex. Running barefoot step on a bee and get stung.
Law of effect  Thorndike’s theory that behavior consistently rewarded will be “stamped in” as learned behavior.

10. Types of Reinforcement
Positive  Any event whose presence increases the likelihood that ongoing behavior will recur.
Negative  Any event whose reduction or termination increases the likelihood that on going behavior will recur.

11. Punishment
Any event whose presence decreases the likelihood that ongoing behavior will recur.
Ex. Fines for littering, rudely answered.

12. Reinforcers
Primary Reinforcer  Stimulus such as food and water  a necessity to life.
Secondary Reinforcer  Reinforcing power through experience or anything that is not a necessity.