Believe infants are born with only three instinctive responses Behaviorist Believe infants are born with only three instinctive responses 1. Fear 2. Rage 3. Love All others behaviors are developed during life through learning
The Power of Reinforcement Positive Reinforcement Stimulus presented after a response that increases the probability of that response happening again Negative Reinforcement Removal of an unpleasant stimulus, contingent on a particular behavior Every time Madge raises her hand in class she is called on. She raised her hand 3 time during the first class, 3 times in the second and 4 times during the last class. A child is allowed to skip a required chore if homework is finished by a certain time.
Negative Reinforcement Something unpleasant is removed Positive Reinforcement Something pleasant is presented
Positive Reinforcement Giving a treat to a dog when it sits (If this results in an increase in the future behavior of the dog sitting). Negative Reinforcement Turning off an annoying song when a child asks their parent and says “Please” (If this results in an increase in the asking behavior of the child).
Watch video Alfie Kohn vs Dwight Schrute on Youtube
American 1874 – 1949 “Law of Effect” Interested in animal intelligence – capacity for reasoning Cat placed in a puzzle box to see if they could escape by learning to make specific response like pulling a string or pressing a bar.
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 Skinner Box - Lever Press Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007
Tools: Operant Conditioning The Operant Conditioning paradigm: SD ------> Response ------> Consequence “SD” is the “discriminative stimulus” “Response” is the subject’s behavior “Consequence” is what happens to the subject after EMITTING the response
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Skinner’s Air Crib It was designed to make the early childcare more simple (by greatly reducing laundry, diaper rash, cradle cap, etc.), while encouraging the baby to be more confident, mobile, comfortable, healthy and less prone to cry. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007
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
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Premack Principle The concept that a preferred activity can be used to reinforce a less preferred one Example: A teacher lets kids run around (preferred activity) to reinforce a less preferred one (sitting still and listening) Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Reinforcement Continuous Reinforcement A reinforcement schedule in which all correct responses are reinforced Possible Problems: 1. Correct responses can be missed, causing confusion 2. Typically loses its reinforcing quality Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007
Reinforcement Resistant to extinction Intermittent (or Partial) Reinforcement A reinforcement schedule in which some, but not all, correct responses are reinforced Resistant to extinction Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Reinforcement Extinction In operant conditioning, a process by which a response that has been learned is weakened by the absence or removal of reinforcement How does this differ from extinction in classical conditioning? Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Extinction Operant Conditioning A learned response is weakened by the removal or absence of reinforcement A. If a child has learned that if it cries it will get a toy, withhold the toy B. A child cries for attention, simply ignore the child until the crying stops Classical Conditioning The CR (dog salivating) is eliminated by repeated presentations of the CS (bell/tone) without the UCS (food) A reversal of a learned response by withholding the UCS Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Shaping Technique where responses similar to desired response are reinforced 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
Behavior Modification Extinguish an undesirable behavior by removing the reinforcer and replace it with a desirable behavior by reinforcement. Example: Quit smoking --- chew gum --- save $ It has been used on all sorts of psychological problems -- addictions, neuroses, shyness, autism, even schizophrenia -- and works particularly well with children. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007