1. Operant Conditioning
Psychology 1

2. Definition Learning from the consequences of one’s actions
Involves reinforcement (rewards) and punishment
Ideal behaviors are followed by a consequence of reinforcement, which increases the frequency of the behavior

3. Reinforcement
Positive reinforcement- adding something pleasant to increase the frequency of a behavior
Ex- After studying, you get an A on your test; so you study more often
Negative reinforcement- removing something unpleasant to increase the frequency of a behavior
Ex- After being pestered by your mom to take out the trash, you start taking out the trash every day

5. Punishment
Receive and something unpleasant to decrease the frequency of a behavior
Ex- After littering, you are given a hefty fine; so you stop littering
Not as effective as reinforcement

6. Clips http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mt4N9GS BoMI
mPXI (stop at ~1:30)

7. Schedules of Reinforcement
Continuous reinforcement- reinforcing a behavior every time it occurs
Partial reinforcement- reinforcing a behavior intermittently
Shaping- teaching complex behaviors by reinforcing small steps in the right direction at a time
Latent learning- learning that remains hidden until it is needed
Ex- CPR

8. Reinforcers
Primary reinforcers- food, water, sex, shelter, warmth, etc.
Deal with biological functions
Secondary reinforcers- money attention, social approval, good grades
Deal with some kind of value, have to be learned

9. B.F. Skinner
Psychologist, most known for Project Pigeon and his discoveries with Operant Conditioning
During WWII, Skinner proposed training pigeons to guide missiles to targets
Pigeons would be given food for pecking at targets on a screen
When they learned to peck at the targets, they would be placed in missiles
They would peck at similar targets on a screen in the missile, guiding the flight path

10. B.F. Skinner Project Pigeon was ended due to bulky equipment
Good example of operant conditioning
The birds learned to do a behavior based on the consequences of their actions
Pecking at the targets earned them food

11. Clips http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_ctJqjlrH A (skinner’s box)
Q_c (gaming- stop at ~3 mins)