BF Skinner

Most notable psychologist of 20th century

Research dealing with learning and operant conditioning has permeated every field of human behavior --education, medicine, business

Operant Conditioning

B.F. Skinner (1904-1990) developed

behavioral technology

Operant Conditioning

B.F. Skinner Walden II -- he

describes a utopia-like commune run on his operant principles.

Operant Conditioning

B.F. Skinner Beyond Freedom

& Dignity -

Operant Condition

Learning by consequences

Operant Condition

Organism “operates” on the environment

Operant Condition

Reinforcements --- Any consequence that makes the behavior it follows more likely to occur

Operant Condition

Reinforcement ---- Behavior that is

rewarded, is repeated

Operant Condition

The frequency of the behavior before reinforcement is the

“operant level”

Operant Conditioning:Skinner Box

Operant Condition

“Shape” behavior through “successive approximations”

Operant Chamber Skinner Box

chamber with a bar or key that an animal manipulates to obtain a food or water reinforcer

contains devices to record responses

Basic Rules of Shaping Behavior

Choose appropriate reinforcer Reinforcement should come

immediately after the behavior Unpredictable schedule of

reinforcement is more effective Avoid Punishment -- (it may stop

unwanted behaviors but returns along with other unwanted behaviors)

Reinforcement

Positive Reinforcer - a response followed by a consequence in the environment results in a strengthening of the response.

Negative Reinforcer - Response is strengthened by the avoidance or removal of an aversive stimulus.

Principles of Reinforcement

Fixed-ratio - reinforce behavior after a set number of responses. Example: people paid on a piecework basis; garment workers

Variable-ratio - reinforcers after an unpredictable number of responses. Gambers/anglers experience. Salesperson job or on commission

Principles of Reinforcement

Fixed-interval - reinforce the first response after a fixed time period. Weekly Paycheck

Variable-interval: reinforce the first response after varying time intervals. Pop quiz.

Learning By Observation

Learning need not be through direct observation, but imitating and observing others

Process of observing & imitating a specific behavior is called modeling

Learning By Observation

Albert Bandura

Learning By Observation

Bandura Experiment. While child plays in room, adult in other

part of room begins lashing out at a Bobo doll. After observing the outburst, child is taken into room with appealing toys. Experimenter enters room and takes toys away (for good children). Many children then become aggressive

Observational Learning

Observational Learning learning by observing others

Modeling process of observing and imitating a

specific behavior