Operant Conditioning

Operant Conditioning Example: If you are reading a class textbook to get a better grade, reading is an operant behavior In operant conditioning, the consequences of behavior, such as rewards and punishments, influence the chance that our behavior will occur again

Classical vs. Operant Classical Conditioning: automatic (respondent behavior). Ex.)Your cat is excited when it hears you shake the treat bag. Operant Conditioning: behavior where one can influence their environment with behaviors which have consequences (operant behavior). Ex.) Child working on homework, if completed can play their Xbox. If not completed, may lose play time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6LEcM0E0io

Edward Thorndike Edward Thorndike performed experiments on cats He placed them in a puzzle box, used fish as a reward for escaping, and timed how long the escape process took Through trial and error, the cats figured out that pressing the level in the box (behavior) led to the reward of escape/fish (stimulus)

Law of Effect He coined the term “Law of Effect” which became the basis of operant conditioning Law of Effect: behavior that is followed by pleasant consequences is likely to be repeated; behavior that is followed by unpleasant consequences is likely to be stopped

Its BF Skinner Time! Consequences in our influence behavior the most Father of Operant Conditioning Change the environment, change the behavior Consequences in our influence behavior the most Reinforcement Increase Behavior Punishment Decrease Behavior

WHO WANTS TO BE OUR VOLUNTEER?  Activity WHO WANTS TO BE OUR VOLUNTEER? 

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Shaping Technique where responses similar to desired response are reinforced closer to the desired behavior Example: Getting a scared child to slide down a high slide Begin at the bottom, and gradually go higher up the slide with each turn until the child is at the top. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

The Skinner Box An Operant Chamber…The Skinner Box A testing device programmed to deliver reinforcers and punishers dependent upon an animal’s behavior Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Primary Reinforcers Reinforcers that have an innate basis because of their biological value to an organism Food Sleep Sex Air Water Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Secondary Reinforcers Stimuli that acquire their reinforcing power by their learned association with primary reinforcers Money Awards Praise Grades Success Power Virtually any stimulus can become a secondary reinforcer Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT OPERANT CONDITIONING REINFORCEMENT (increase behavior) PUNISHMENT (decrease behavior) POSITIVE (adding something to the situation) POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT POSITIVE PUNISHMENT NEGATIVE (removing something from the situation) NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT NEGATIVE PUNISHMENT

Positive Reinforcement Remember reinforcement means increasing a behavior Positive doesn’t mean good and negative doesn’t mean bad Positive means adding a (GOOD) stimulus Positive Reinforcement - Strengthens a response by presenting a positive stimulus after a response. Example: Getting candy for answering a question Example: Receiving praise for our karaoke performances can increase how often we sing.  Examples?

Negative Reinforcement Negative Reinforcement: Strengthens a response by reducing or removing an aversive stimulus. Example: Participating in class means taking the days homework assignment Example: Hitting the snooze button The concept of Negative Reinforcement is difficult to learn because of the word negative. Negative Reinforcement is often confused with Punishment. They are very different.

Is this positive or negative reinforcement?

Positive or Negative Reinforcement? Taking aspirin to relieve a headache NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT Strengthens a response by reducing or removing an aversive stimulus. (The headache is the aversive stimulus) headache as negative reinforcer to taking medication

Big Bang Theory Is this positive or negative reinforcement? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mt4N9GSB oMI

Stand up! Find a partner from away from you and give an example of positive and negative reinforcement go!

Punishment Weakens a behavior because a negative condition is introduced or experienced as a consequence of the behavior. Punishment is often mistakenly confused with negative reinforcement. Remember, reinforcement always increases the chances that a behavior will occur & Punishment always decreases the chances that a behavior will occur.

Positive Punishment Positive punishment is reducing likelihood of behavior by adding something bad Example: Student talks out of turn in the middle of class, the teacher might scold the child for interrupting her.

Negative Punishment Negative punishment - reducing likelihood of behavior by taking away something good Example: Student talks out of turn again, the teacher promptly tells the child that he will have to miss recess because of his behavior. Punishment works best when it is immediately done after behavior Does not actually offer any information about more appropriate or desired behaviors

Many psychologists note four drawbacks of physically punishing children: 1. Punished behavior is suppressed, not forgotten 2. Punishment teaches discrimination. Was the punishment effective removing cussing or just not get caught 3. Punishment can teach fear. Most European countries and most US states now ban physical punishment. 4. Physical punishment may increase aggressiveness by modeling aggression as a way to cope with problems.

Positive of Negative Punishment? Getting grounded for talking about to your parents Positive Punishment

REMEMBER NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT NEGATIVE does not mean BAD… it means TAKING AWAY SOMETHING!!! REINFORCEMENT means CONTINUING A BEHAVIOR!!! So NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT means TAKING AWAY SOMETHING BAD SO A BEHAVIOR CONTINUES!!!! Example: Every time Kelly cleans up his room his mother doesn’t make him do any other chore.

What type of Operant Conditioning is this? Positive Reinforcement? INCREASE behavior by ADDING a stimulus Negative Reinforcement? INCREASE behavior by REMOVING a stimulus Positive Punishment? DECREASE behavior by ADDING a stimulus Negative Punishment? DECREASE behavior by REMOVING a stimulus Being yelled at by your coach after you fumbled

What type of Operant Conditioning is this? Positive Reinforcement? INCREASE behavior by ADDING a stimulus Negative Reinforcement? INCREASE behavior by REMOVING a stimulus Positive Punishment? DECREASE behavior by ADDING a stimulus Negative Punishment? DECREASE behavior by REMOVING a stimulus Taking pepto bismol because you have an upset stomach

What type of Operant Conditioning is this? Positive Reinforcement? INCREASE behavior by ADDING a stimulus Negative Reinforcement? INCREASE behavior by REMOVING a stimulus Positive Punishment? DECREASE behavior by ADDING a stimulus Negative Punishment? DECREASE behavior by REMOVING a stimulus Putting money in a soda machine that steals your change

What type of Operant Conditioning is this? Positive Reinforcement? INCREASE behavior by ADDING a stimulus Negative Reinforcement? INCREASE behavior by REMOVING a stimulus Positive Punishment? DECREASE behavior by ADDING a stimulus Negative Punishment? DECREASE behavior by REMOVING a stimulus Giving your dog a treat for sitting on command

What type of Operant Conditioning is this? Positive Reinforcement? INCREASE behavior by ADDING a stimulus Negative Reinforcement? INCREASE behavior by REMOVING a stimulus Positive Punishment? DECREASE behavior by ADDING a stimulus Negative Punishment? DECREASE behavior by REMOVING a stimulus You lose your cell phone after getting caught texting in class

What type of Operant Conditioning is this? Positive Reinforcement? INCREASE behavior by ADDING a stimulus Negative Reinforcement? INCREASE behavior by REMOVING a stimulus Positive Punishment? DECREASE behavior by ADDING a stimulus Negative Punishment? DECREASE behavior by REMOVING a stimulus Lifting weights to lose weight

Questions to ask yourself for Operant Conditioning What is the behavior? Is the behavior increasing (reinforcement) or decreasing (punishment)? Did a stimulus become added (positive) or taken away (negative)?