I Love the OC

Operant Conditioning: Type of associative learning in which behavior is

strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher.

In this type of learning, a person learns to associate their own actions with consequences.

dog

The Pioneering Mind behind OC

B.F. Skinner, an author, decided to enter grad school in psych.

He was intrigued with how animal’s and people’s behavior is shaped by what they get or lose from doing it.

Going to the Birds… and Rats

Skinner devised a simple yet effective method to see if he could in fact teach animals to respond to stimuli the way he wanted.

He came up with Operant Chambers, or Skinner Boxes to test Rats and Pigeons.

Pigeon vid

How OC Increases Behavior

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Positive Reinforcement: Add a desirable effect

Negative Reinforcement: Remove an aversive stimulus

How OC Decreases Behavior

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Positive Punishment: Administer an aversive stimulus

Negative Punishment: Withdraw a desirable stimulus

Operant Conditioning Finale

The Finishing Touches on Operant Conditioning

But I want more than 2 or 3 days

worth!

Clarification on OC Terms

Positive Prefix

Adding something in response to a behavior.

Adding something: good = reinforcementbad = punishment

Negative Prefix

Taking away something in response to a behavior.

Taking something: good = punishmentbad = reinforcement

No more for you till you behave yourself.

Reinforcement Schedules

Psychologists have found that constant positive reinforcement, or continuous reinforcement, is not the answer.

It is much better to create a reinforcement schedule since life rarely continuously reinforces us.

What about Punishments?

Use punishments carefully.

Constant, especially physical punishments, can suppress instead of decrease behaviors and cause fearfulness in children.