Operant ConditioningThe second great learning theory in modern

psychology!

People and animals learn how to do certain things and not others because of the consequences of what they do.

“Everything we do and are is determined by our history of rewards and punishments.” -B.F. Skinner

To what extent do you agree?

The main idea of operant conditioning:

The Operant Chamber (Or Skinner Box)

http://www.twine.com/item/12flkpgdj-fj/youtube-bf-skinner-on-reinforcement-general-psychology

Reinforcement is:

Types of Reinforcers

Primary reinforcers:

Secondary reinforcers:

Positive reinforcers: Negative reinforcers:

Positive vs. negative

Fixed ratio schedule:Variable-ratio schedule:

Ratio schedules of reinforcement

Fixed interval schedule:

Variable interval schedule:

Interval schedules of reinforcement

Teaching complex behaviors to animals by reinforcing small steps in the right direction

“Successive approximations” Skinner taught pigeons to walk in a figure 8, play

ping-pong, etc. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQNHqENd6ls

Skinner’s Original Experiments: Shaping

At school Skinner dreamed of a future where teaching

machines and textbooks shaped learning in small steps, immediately reinforcing correct responses

https://www.khanacademy.org/? Sports

Reinforce small successes and gradually increase the challenge

Other uses of Skinner’s theory

At work Reward specific, achievable behaviors, not vaguely

defined “merit” Reinforcement should be immediate

At home Parents who give in to protests or defiance reinforce

whining and arguing Always notice kids doing something right and

commend them for it

Other applications (cont.)

Reinforcement increases a behavior; punishment diminishes it.

Punishment tells you what not to do; reinforcement tells you what to do.

Why does punishment often fail and/or create more problems?

A word about punishment

The downside of Skinner: The Overjustification Effect

“If I have to be bribed into doing this, it must not be worth doing for its own sake.”

Extrinsic rewards can damage intrinsic motivation

Read this: http://www.psychwiki.com/wik

i/The_Overjustification_Effect