Operant Conditioning Operant Conditioning Definition learning process of

Operant Conditioning

Operant Conditioning � Definition: learning process of responding to rewards and punishments in a way that changes the frequency of a behavior � B. F. Skinner— American psychologist

Skinner Box

Principles of O. C. �Reinforcement: increases the frequency of a behavior ◦ Positive & Negative �Punishment: decreases the frequency of a behavior ◦ Type I & Type II

Reinforcement �Types of Reinforcers: ◦ Primary Reinforcer — satisfies a biological need �Examples? ◦ Secondary Reinforcer — any object that has acquired a positive value �Examples?

Reinforcement (cont. ) � Positive Reinforcement adding something positive to increase behavior ◦ Ex 1) teaching a dog a trick ◦ Ex 2) ? Behavior Adding Positive Stimulus Behavior Increases Told to “shake”, a dog lifts his paw Give dog a treat Dog lifts paw when told to “shake” in the future

Reinforcement (cont. ) � Negative Reinforcement removing something unpleasant to increase behavior ◦ Ex 1) making excuse on a boring date ◦ Ex 2) ? Behavior Subtracting Negative Stimulus Behavior Increases In middle of a boring date, you say you have a headache Date ends early You use the same tactic for future dates

Schedules of Reinforcement �Continuous every time Schedule — reinforced ◦ Ex: Giving a toddler a sticker when potty training �Partial Schedule — reinforced randomly ◦ Ex: Playing the slot machine

What is reinforcement? Explain with neighbor

Principles—Punishment � Type 1—adding something unpleasant to decrease behavior ◦ Ex 1) burning hand on stove ◦ Ex 2) ? Behavior Adding Negative Stimulus Behavior Decreases You touch a burner on the stove Your hand is burned No longer touch hot stoves

Punishment (cont. ) � Type 2: subtracting something positive to decrease behavior ◦ Ex 1) taking phone during class ◦ Ex 2) ? Behavior Subtracting a Positive Stimulus Behavior Decreases Being on phone a lot during class Take phone away Take out phone less during class

Punishment Problems �What could some potential drawbacks of punishment be?

What is punishment? Explain with partner

Operant Conditioning �Positive Reinforcement: �Negative Reinforcement: �Type I Punishment: �Type II Punishment:

Exit Pass �What is classical conditioning and give one example. �What is operant conditioning and give one example.

Classical vs. Operant Examples

If you finish & I tell you to do the following… �Add an additional example for each of the following on a separate sheet (write as if you are giving to another person to try and identify) ◦ Classical conditioning ◦ Positive Reinforcement ◦ Negative Reinforcement ◦ Type I Punishment ◦ Type II Punishment

Classical vs. Operant Experiments

CC Experiment �Were they classically conditioned? �Apply the terms to this experiment (i. e. , UCS, UCR, NS, CR)

OC Experiment �What were some of the reactions the volunteers had? �Which principles of operant conditioning were used? �Which method was the most effective?

Individual Practice 1. The teacher takes away homework to increase attention during class. 2. You are terrified of snakes. Every time you have ventured into your friend’s barn you have seen a snake. Now you get nervous just seeing that barn. 3. Richard received a detention to make it less likely he would arrive late to class in the future. 4. Sally won $5 on a scratch off lottery ticket, so she continued to buy scratch off lottery tickets the rest of that week.

Individual Practice 5. The teacher claps and tells the students to be quiet. After a few times of doing this, all the teacher has to do to get the students to quiet down is clap. 6. A prisoner has his freedom taken away by putting him in solitary, so he stops fighting with other prisoners. 7. Rachel got stung by a bee walking on her front porch. After this occasion, she avoided her front porch. 8. You offer a $100 reward for whoever finds your dog. Because you offered the reward people began to search more and your dog was found within a few days.

Individual Practice 9. An insomniac has a cold and takes Nyquil and their inability to sleep goes away. He decides to take Nyquil every time he has a hard time falling asleep. 10. A student misses school so often that she is not allowed to go to prom unless she attends school the rest of the year. She ends up missing school less for the remaining days.

Conditioning Experiment Check-In