Thinking About Psychology: The Science of Mind & Behavior Module 16

Reinforcement vs. Punishment Concept: Studies show that reinforcement is better in encouraging behavior than punishment. Directions: Choose the letter for the situation that is more likely to encourage behavior.

A. Your parents offer you $100 for each “A” you receive on your report card. B. Your parents make you pay them $100 for each time you don’t make an “A” on your report card. A- This situation uses positive reinforcement instead of the punishment used in situation B.

A. You receive a painful shock each time you watch more than 2 hours of TV a night. B. You earn an extra 10 minutes added to your curfew for watching less than 2 hours of TV a night. B- Getting a reward in this situation is likely to decrease TV watching.

Operant Conditioning A type of learning in which the frequency of a behavior depends on the consequence that follows that behavior The frequency will increase if the consequence is reinforcing to the subject. The frequency will decrease if the consequence is not reinforcing to the subject.

Reinforcement & Punishment Reinforcement - Any consequence that increases the likelihood of the behavior it follows Punishment - Any consequence that decreases the likelihood of the behavior it follows The subject determines if a consequence is reinforcing or punishing

Positive Reinforcement Anything that increases the likelihood of a behavior by following it with a desirable event or state The subject receives something they want Will strengthen the behavior

Negative Reinforcement Yelling at student to wear their uniform Anything that increases the likelihood of a behavior by following it with the removal of an undesirable event or state Note: the behavior is a means of either ESCAPING or AVOIDING an undesirable situation Something the subject doesn’t like is removed Will strengthen the behavior Yelling at student to wear their uniform

Secondary Reinforcement Primary VS Secondary Reinforcement

Primary Reinforcement Something that is naturally reinforcing Examples: food, warmth, water, etc. The item is reinforcing in and of itself

Secondary Reinforcement Something that a person has learned to value or finds rewarding because it is paired with a primary reinforcer Money is a good example

Punishment: The Process of Punishment I will study for my psychology test. I will study for my psychology test. I will study for my psychology test. I will study for my psychology test. I will study for my psychology test.

Types of Punishment An undesirable event following a behavior A desirable state or event ends following a behavior

Negative Effects of Punishment Doesn’t prevent the undesirable behavior when away from the punisher Can lead to fear, anxiety, and lower self-esteem Children who are punished physically may learn to use aggression as a means to solve problems. May explain why abusive parents tend to come from abusive families.

Positive Effects of Punishment Punishment can effectively control certain behaviors. Especially useful if teaching a child not to do a dangerous behavior Most still suggest reinforcing an incompatible behavior rather than using punishment

Shaping Technique used to establish a new behavior, that otherwise probably wouldn’t happen Reinforcement of behaviors that are more and more similar to the one you want to occur Example: Learning to ride a bike without training wheels. Although you fall off, your parents keep telling you “Good Job!” This helps encourage you to go further alone.

The goal of operant conditioning is to change behavior

Steps to Completing Scenarios Identify the behavior in the scenario Identify the reward OR punishment in the scenario Determine whether the scenario is positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, punishment, or extinction Justify your answer

Ruby has learned that if she leaves early for work, she can avoid heavy traffic.

Ruby has learned that if she leaves early for work, she can avoid heavy traffic.

Ruby has learned that if she leaves early for work, she can avoid heavy traffic.

This is ____________ because the behavior (leaving early for work) __________ as heavy traffic is ___________.

This is negative reinforcement because the behavior (leaving early for work) __________ as heavy traffic is ___________.

This is negative reinforcement because the behavior (leaving early for work) increases as heavy traffic is ___________.

This is negative reinforcement because the behavior (leaving early for work) increases as heavy traffic is removed.

Goal: Wear a Uniform! Positive Reinforcement Person receives extra credit for wearing a uniform

Goal: Wear a Uniform! Negative Reinforcement Person wears uniform to avoid lecture

Goal: decrease uniform misbehavior (punishment) Giving detention for being out of uniform to decrease uniform misbehavior

Goal: decrease uniform misbehavior (punishment) Removing person from class (and going to in-school) to decrease uniform misbehavior

Schedules of Reinforcement

Continuous Reinforcement A schedule of reinforcement in which a reward follows every correct response Most useful way to establish a behavior The behavior will extinguish quickly once the reinforcement stops. Example: Vending machines. Example: A teacher giving extra credit to students who participate in class.

Partial Reinforcement A schedule of reinforcement in which a reward follows only some correct responses When our behavior is reinforced intermittently (only some of the time), hope springs eternal and we are reluctant to give up. Example: Lottery tickets- People don’t expect to win every time they buy a ticket. Therefore they continue to buy tickets even if they don’t win. Partial reinforcement schedules produce responding that is hard to extinguish. Includes the following types: Fixed-interval and variable interval Fixed-ratio and variable-ratio

Fixed-Interval Schedule A partial reinforcement schedule that rewards only the first correct response after some defined period of time Example: A researcher always reinforces a rat’s first bar press after 60 seconds. After receiving a food pellet (reinforcement) for that response, the rat has to wait 60 seconds before it will be reinforced for another correct response. The interval (60 seconds) is fixed, and there is no way the rat can get reinforced during the interval

Variable-Interval Schedule A partial reinforcement that rewards the first correct response after an unpredictable amount of time Rat learns to respond at a moderate, steady rate Fast responses don’t get extra rewards, so speed is not important Example: “pop” quiz in a class

Fixed-Ratio Schedule A partial reinforcement schedule that rewards a response only after some defined number of correct responses The faster the subject responds, the more reinforcements they will receive. Speed matters-The faster the rat makes the required amount of responses, the faster it will be fed. Example: Stores that run “Buy 5, Get 1 free” specials.

Variable-Ratio Schedule A partial reinforcement schedule that rewards an unpredictable number of correct responses Rats tend to respond fast and to continue responding after receiving a reinforcement. After all, the next response could always be the response that pays off, and the only way to find out is to make that response! This schedule is very resistant to extinction. Sometimes called the “gambler’s schedule”; similar to a slot machine

Let’s guess the reinforcement schedule

A person buys state lottery Variable Ratio A person buys state lottery tickets and wins.

A hotel maid may take a 15 minute Fixed Ratio A hotel maid may take a 15 minute Break only after having cleaned 3 rooms..

Someone watches and sees shooting Variable Interval Someone watches and sees shooting Stars on a dark night.

A teenager receives an allowance Fixed Interval A teenager receives an allowance every Saturday.

A person checks the front porch for a Variable Interval A person checks the front porch for a Newspaper when the delivery person is extremely unpredictable.

A professional baseball player gets a hit approximately every Variable Ratio A professional baseball player gets a hit approximately every third time at bat.

A person checks the oven to see if Cookies are done when the amount Fixed Interval A person checks the oven to see if Cookies are done when the amount Of time needed for baking is known.

A blueberry picker receives $1 after Fixed Ratio A blueberry picker receives $1 after filling 3 pint boxes.

A chartable organization makes an average of Variable Ratio A chartable organization makes an average of ten phone calls for every donation it receives.

A person calls a garage mechanic to Variable Interval A person calls a garage mechanic to see if his or her car is fixed yet.

A student’s final grade improves one level Fixed Ratio A student’s final grade improves one level for every three book reviews submitted.

A student goes to the cafeteria to see if the next meal is available. Fixed Interval A student goes to the cafeteria to see if the next meal is available.