1. Unit 6 (C): Operant Conditioning
Mr. McCormick
A.P. Psychology

2. Do-Now: (Discussion)
Describe the following phenomena of Classical Conditioning:
Generalization
Discrimination
Extinction
Spontaneous Recovery
Learned Helplessness
What is Operant Conditioning and how does it differ from Classical Conditioning?

3. Classical Vs. Operant Conditioning
Classical Conditioning forms associations between stimuli (CS and US)
Respondent Behavior
Operant conditioning forms an association between behaviors and the resulting events.
Operant Behavior

4. Operant Conditioning Operant Conditioning:
A type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished by a punisher

5. Skinner’s Experiments
B.F. Skinner’s experiments extend Edward Thorndike’s thinking, especially his law of effect. This law states that rewarded behavior is likely to occur again.

6. Operant Chamber
Using Thorndike's law of effect as a starting point, Skinner developed the operant chamber, or the “Skinner Box,” to study operant conditioning.

7. Operant Chamber
The Operant Chamber, or “Skinner Box,” comes with a bar or key that an animal manipulates to obtain a reinforcer like food or water.
The bar or key is connected to devices that record the animal’s response.

8. Shaping
Shaping is the operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior towards the desired target behavior through successive approximations.
A rat shaped to sniff mines. A manatee shaped to discriminate objects of different shapes, colors and sizes.

9. Types of Reinforcers Reinforcer:
Any event that strengthens (reinforces) the behavior it follows
A reinforcement is a reward

10. Types of Reinforcers

11. Types of Reinforcers Primary Reinforcer:
An innately reinforcing stimulus
Often satisfies a biological need
E.g. Pizza
Secondary/Conditioned Reinforcer:
A stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer
E.g. Money

12. Types of Reinforcers
If a teacher wanted to reinforce students arriving to class on time, how could he or she employ the following types of reinforcers:
Positive/Primary
Positive/Secondary
Negative/Primary
Negative/Secondary

13. Schedules of Reinforcement
Terms to consider:
Fixed:
Set/Pre-determined
Variable:
Changeable/Unpredictable
Ratio:
Number of times
Interval:
Amount of time intervals

14. Schedules of Reinforcement
Fixed-Ratio:
Reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses
E.g. Buy 10 coffees, get one free
Variable-Ratio:
Reinforces response after an unpredictable number of responses
E.g. Slot machines

15. Schedules of Reinforcement
Fixed-Interval:
Reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed
E.g. Weekly pay checks
Variable-Interval:
Reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals
E.g. Pop quizzes

16. Schedules of Reinforcement
Provide an example of each of the following schedules of reinforcement:
Fixed-Ratio
Variable-Ratio
Fixed-Interval
Variable-Interval
Which one do you think is least effective?
Which one do you think is most effective?
Which one do you think is most addictive?

17. Schedules of Reinforcement

18. Punishment

19. If not, what other alternatives do you support?
Punishment
Do you feel that punishment is effective, and under what types of circumstances?
If not, what other alternatives do you support?

20. Punishment Effects of Punishment on Behavior:
Punished behavior is suppressed, not forgotten
Punishment does not teach appropriate behavior
Punishment causes unwanted behaviors to reappear in its absence
Punishment can teach fear
Justifies pain to others
Physical punishment may increase aggressiveness by modeling aggression as a way to cope with problems

21. Review What is Operant Conditioning?
Describe the following types of reinforcement:
Positive
Negative
Primary
Secondary (Conditioned)
Describe the following schedules of reinforcement:
Fixed-Ratio
Variable-Ratio
Fixed-Interval
Variable-Interval
What are some ways that punishment affects behavior?

22. Homework Research Study # 10: “Little Emotional Albert” (Pgs. 72-78)
Unit 6 Quiz: “Learning”
Unit 6 FRQ
Unit 6 Test: “Learning”
Chapter 8 Outline: “Memory”