Operant Conditioning Chapter 6 Definition Learning a behavior is
strengthened if followed by reinforcement or diminished if followed
by punishment Classical conditioning involves respondent behavior
that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus. Operant
conditioning involves operant behavior, a behavior that operates on
the environment producing rewarding or punishing stimuli Operant
Conditioning Law of Effect Edward L. Thorndike
behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely
behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely
Early Operant Conditioning
Thorndikes Box used on cats Scratch at bars Push at ceiling Dig at
floor Situation: stimuli inside of puzzle box Howl Etc. Press lever
First Trial in Box After Many Trials in Box B.F. Skinner Operant
chamber or Skinner box comes with a bar or key that an animal
manipulates to obtain a food or water reinforcer It is connected to
devices that record the animals responses. Using Thorndike's law of
effect as a starting point Skinner developed the Operant chamber or
the Skinner box to study operant conditioning. B.F. Skinner
Shaping: Reinforcing small steps toward more complex behavior
Discriminative Stimulus: signals availability of reinforcement or
punishment (light, sound, parent) Skinner Box Extending Skinners
Understanding Cognition and Operant Conditioning
Intrinsic Motivation Internal behavior for its own sake Extrinsic
Motivation External The desire to perform a behavior due to
promised rewards or threats of punishments Extending Skinners
Understanding Biological Predispositions
Biological constraints predispose organisms to learn associations
that are naturally adaptive Skinners Legacy Applications of Operant
Conditioning
At school Grades, college, graduation In sports Winning, skill
development, belonging At home Love, money, belonging For
self-improvement Discussion What are the similarities between
classical and operant conditioning? What are the differences
between classical and operant conditioning? Operant vs. Classical
Conditioning Processes in Operant Conditioning
Acquisition: Initial stages of learning through reinforcement
Extinction: The gradual weakening and disappearance of a response
tendency because the response is no longer followed by a reinforcer
Generalization: When responding increases in the presence of new
stimuli that resembles the original discriminative stimulus
Discrimination: When responding does not increase in the presence
of a new stimulus that resembles the original discriminative
stimulus Reinforcement: consequences that strengthen
responses
Positive Reinforcement: A response is strengthened because it is
followed by the presentation of a rewarding stimulus Negative
Reinforcement: A response is strengthened because it is followed by
the removal of an aversive stimulus (buzzer for seat belt)
Conditioned Reinforcement Primary Reinforcers: Inherently
reinforcing satisfy biological needs (food, water, shelter)
Secondary Reinforcers: Acquire reinforcing qualities by being
associated with primary reinforcers (money, stickers, praise)
Exchanging reinforcers
Tokens Systems Given tokens for good behavior or compliance with
those in charge Exchanged for Primary reinforcers Schedules of
Reinforcement
Continuous: Reinforce every time fastest, but quickest to
extinction) ATM Grades for completing assignments Fixed Ratio (FR)
Fixed Ratio: Reinforcer is given after a fixed number of
non-reinforced responses reinforces a response only after a
specified number of responses faster you respond the more rewards
you get Very high rate of responding Commission Pay Getting a bonus
for every 5 cars sold. Fixed Interval (FI) Fixed Interval:
Reinforcer is given for the first response that occurs after a
fixed time interval has elapsed reinforces a response only after a
specified time has elapsed response occurs more frequently as the
anticipated time for reward draws near Paycheck every Friday
Variable Ratio (VR) Variable Ratio: Reinforcer after a variable
number of non-reinforced responses very hard to extinguish because
of unpredictability like gambling, fishing Bingo Variable Interval
(VI)
Variable Interval:Reinforcer is given for the first response after
a variable time interval has elapsed reinforces a response at
unpredictable time intervals produces slow steady responding Pop
quiz Schedules of Reinforcement Punishment Punishment can result in
unwanted fears.
Although there may be some justification for occasional punishment
(Larzelaere & Baumrind, 2002), it usually leads to negative
effects. Punishment can result in unwanted fears. Conveys no
information to the organism. Justifies pain to others. Unwanted
behaviors reappear in its absence. Aggression towards the agent.
One unwanted behavior appears in place of another. Punishment
Top Related