Operant Conditioning Chapter 9 2 Operant Conditioning Learning

Operant Conditioning Chapter 9 -2

Operant Conditioning • Learning happens when behavior is shaped and maintained by consequences

Edward Thorndike • Pioneer • Law of Effect • Behavior followed by • Pleasant thing strengthened • Unpleasant thing weakened • Instrumental conditioning

Thorndike’s Puzzle Box Video

B. F. Skinner • Psychologist • Behavior is influenced by a person’s history of rewards and punishments • 3 consequences to behavior • Ignored • Rewarded • Punished

Skinner Box Skinner and Pigeons

Operant conditioning • Reinforcements • Consequences that encourage a behavior to happen again • Can be – or + • Punishments • Consequences that discourage a behavior from happening again • Can be – or +

Positive Reinforcement • Something added that increases the likelihood behavior will be repeated • video

Negative Reinforcement • Something is removed to increase the likelihood of a behavior happening again • An escape from an unwanted condition • Negative does not mean “bad” or “undesirable” • Loud buzz in some cars when ignition key is turned on; driver must put on safety belt in order to eliminate irritating dinging

Reinforcement • Primary • Naturally rewarding • Food, water, shelter, love • Secondary • Something that you learned to value • Money, good grades, praise

Punishments… • Add or subtract something to cause a behavior to decrease • Now let’s practice…

Negatives of Punishment • can produce undesirable results – fear and aggression • Can produce learned helplessness • Feeling its impossible to avoid punishment • Passiveness leads to depression

Scheduling of Reinforcement • Continuous Reinforcement • Behavior that is reinforced every time • Now…I need a volunteer

Shaping • Learning step by step • Strengthen behavior by reinforcing successive approximations of a behavior until the entire correct routine is displayed Pigeons Play Ping Pong

Scheduling of Reinforcement • Intermittent Reinforcement • It doesn’t occur every time • Two Types • Ratio Schedules of Reinforcement • Based upon the # of responses • Interval Schedules of Reinforcement • Based upon amount of time�

Ratio Schedules of Reinforcement • Fixed ratio schedules • Reinforcement occurs after a predetermined set of responses • An employer pays workers for every 3 baskets of fruit they pick • After 9 lunch buffets you buy at Fields of Pizza, you get a free lunch buffet.

Ratio Schedules of Reinforcement • Variable ratio schedules • Reinforcement is unpredictable because the ratio varies • Slot machines • Making sales on commission

Interval Schedules of Reinforcement • Fixed Interval Schedules • Reinforcement occurs after a predetermined time has elapsed • Pay check every two weeks

Interval Schedules of Reinforcement • Variable Interval Schedules • Reinforcement occurs unpredictably since the time interval varies • Pop quizzes • Fishing • Crash Course

Behavior Modification • a set of therapies/ techniques based on operant conditioning

It’s tricky… • DO NOT confuse punishment and reinforcement. • Punishment decreases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated • Reinforcement increases the likelihood that the behavior will be repeated

Keys to Success Operant Conditioning • First: Identify the BEHAVIOR in the situation. Is it increasing (reinforcement) or decreasing (punishment)? • Second: In the remaining part of the statement, figure out whether the stimulus is being added (positive) or removed (negative) from the situation to affect the behavior. • Crash Course Video