Operant Conditioning Unit 7 Lesson 2

Objectives Describe and apply components of operant conditioning. Identify B.F. Skinner. Analyze uses and effectiveness of reinforcement and punishment. Describe reinforcement schedules.

Warm Up What is learning? Relatively permanent change in behavior that results from experience.

Review of Prior Learning You always talk to your (boy/girl) friend while sitting in your beanbag chair. After an ugly breakup, you find that even looking at the chair upsets you, so you give it to Goodwill. Identify the NS-UCS-UCR-CS-CR What would be occurring if you couldn’t sit in any chair while talking on the phone? What if you only refused to sit in beanbag chairs? What if you go away to college and your roommate has a chair that makes you chuckle as you sit in it and think about the story? And this can only occur after it’s gone away which is called?

Classical vs. Operant Conditioning Environment provides the stimulus and the subject responds. Operant Environment responds to the subject’s behavior (stimulus).

Edward Thorndike Thorndike’s Law of Effect Rewarded behavior likely to recur

B.F. Skinner Behavior influenced by history of its consequences

Skinner Box

Shaping Reward behaviors close to the behavior he was looking for until animal performed desired behavior.

Operant Conditioning Reward A.k.a. Positive Reinforcement Actions taken that result in  consequences Behavior more likely to occur again Punishment Actions taken that result in  consequences Behavior less likely to occur again

Operant Conditioning Negative Reinforcement Actions taken to avoid punishments Behavior more likely to occur again Omission Training Actions taken which result in something  being taken away Behavior less likely to occur again

Operant Conditioning Chart Pleasant Aversive Positive Reinforcement Punishment Omission Training Negative + _

Introduction to Operant Conditioning “problems” Activity Introduction to Operant Conditioning “problems” When you’ve worked your way through the problem, identify which principle of operant conditioning is at work. ( +R, -R, OT, P) + Reinforcement: Give child dessert as soon as spinach eaten Punishment: send to room, yell if complaining begins Omission: take dessert away if complaining begins - Reinforcement: eat spinach without complaining and you don’t have to eat your liver

Closure Day 1 Use all 4 principles of operant conditioning to describe how you’d get a child to eat spinach without complaining. Premack Principle- Use more preferred activity to motivate you to do less preferred activity + Reinforcement: Give child dessert as soon as spinach eaten Punishment: send to room, yell if complaining begins Omission: take dessert away if complaining begins - Reinforcement: eat spinach without complaining and you don’t have to eat your liver

Day 2 Warm Up What’s the difference between classical and operant conditioning? Classical-subject responds to environment Operant – environment responds to subject’s behavior. + Reinforcement: Give child dessert as soon as spinach eaten Punishment: send to room, yell if complaining begins Omission: take dessert away if complaining begins - Reinforcement: eat spinach without complaining and you don’t have to eat your liver

Review Which principle of operant conditioning… Presents something unpleasant? Takes something pleasant away? Takes something unpleasant away? Presents something pleasant?

Types of Reinforcers Primary Reinforcer Secondary Reinforcer Value doesn’t need to be learned. Satisfies basic human need. Ex: Food, sleep Secondary Reinforcer Value has to be learned Without conditioning, it would have no +/- value Ex: $, Praise, Hug, Grades Train dog to “sit”. Stimulus = “Sit” Behavior is sitting If sit, the dog gets treat, which is primary reinforcer As feed, say “good dog”, which is secondary reinforcer Repeat process often, gradually give dog less food, will still sit b/c “Good Dog” becomes reinforcement.

Providing Reinforcement Continuous Reinforcement Reinforcement given every time desired behavior occurs Partial Reinforcement Reinforcement only given sometimes after desired behavior occurs.

Online Activity PsychSim 5.0 “Operant Conditioning” http://www.worthpublishers.com/exploring5e/content/psychsim5/Operant%20Conditioning/PsychSim_Shell.html This activity will review classical and operant conditioning and introduce you to schedules of reinforcement.

4 Schedules of Partial Reinforcement Ratio Schedule # of correct responses subject makes between reinforcement Interval Schedule Amt of time that passes before reinforcement given Rate of Reinforcement: Fixed If time or # of responses is constant Variable If time or # of responses is random

4 Schedules of Partial Reinforcement Fixed-Ratio Reinforcement occurs after specific, unchanging # of responses. Variable-Ratio Reinforcement occurs after unpredictable # of responses. Fixed-Interval Reinforcement occurs after set amt of time Variable-Interval Reinforcement occurs at unpredictable time interval

Schedules of Reinforcement Activity Schedules of Reinforcement

(Principles and Reinforcement Schedules) Activity Operant Practice (Principles and Reinforcement Schedules)

Closure What is the difference between operant and classical conditioning?