Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Big Bang Theory
I CAN Explain key features of OC – Positive Reinforcement – Negative Reinforcement – Omission Training (Negative Punishment) – Punishment (positive punishment) Distinguish the Schedules of Reinforcement
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 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
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Four Kinds of Consequences Positive or appetitive Negative or aversive STIMULUS - Remove Negative Reinforcement Aspirin curing headache causes more aspirin use Omission Training Missing dinner leads to less staying out late + Present Positive Reinforcement Bonus for working hard leads to more hard work Punishment Getting speeding ticket leads to less speeding
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Why Punishment Doesn’t Work 1.The power of punishment usually disappears when threat of punishment is removed Punishment… 2. …often triggers aggression or escape 3. …may increase apprehension in the learner, inhibiting the learning new and better responses 4. …is often unfair and applied unequally
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 When Does Punishment Work? It must be immediate It must be immediate It must be certain and consistent It must be certain and consistent It should be limited in duration and intensity It should be limited in duration and intensity Should be clearly target the behavior, not the person Should be clearly target the behavior, not the person Limited to the situation in which the response occurred Limited to the situation in which the response occurred Should not send mixed messages (I can hit you but you can’t hit others Should not send mixed messages (I can hit you but you can’t hit others Negative punishment is the most effective Negative punishment is the most effective
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Alternatives to Punishment Extinction Reinforcing preferred activities – The Premack Principle Prompting and shaping
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
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 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 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 Intermittent (or Partial) Reinforcement A reinforcement schedule in which some, but not all, correct responses are reinforced Resistant to extinction Reinforcement
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 How does this differ from extinction in classical conditioning? Reinforcement Extinction In operant conditioning, a process by which a response that has been learned is weakened by the absence or removal of reinforcement
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 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
Schedules of Reinforcement 1. Ratio Schedules Provide a reward after a certain number of responses (Ratio = number) 2. Interval Schedules Provide reward after a certain time interval Fixed Ratio (FR) Fixed Interval (FI) Variable Ratio (VR) Variable Interval (VI)
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007
Schedules of Reinforcement Fixed Ratio (FR) Fixed Interval (FI) Variable Ratio (VR) Variable Interval (VI) Rewards appear after a certain set number of responses Example: A factory workers gets paid after every 10 cases of a product are completed
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Schedules of Reinforcement Fixed Ratio (FR) Fixed Interval (FI) Variable Ratio (VR) Variable Interval (VI) The number of responses for a reward (reinforcement) varies Example: Telemarketers never know how many calls it takes to make a sale slot machine pay-offs
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Schedules of Reinforcement Fixed Ratio (FR) Fixed Interval (FI) Variable Ratio (VR) Variable Interval (VI) Time period between rewards remains constant Example: Weekly paycheck Quarterly school grades
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Schedules of Reinforcement Fixed Ratio (FR) Fixed Interval (FI) Variable Ratio (VR) Variable Interval (VI) Rewards appear after a certain amount of time, but that amount varies Example: Random visits from the boss who delivers praise Fishing
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Operant and Classical Conditioning Compared Classical Conditioning involves the association of two stimuli (UCS + CS) before the response or behavior It is largely a response to past stimulation and ends with the response Operant Conditioning involves a reinforcing (reward) or punishing stimulus after a response or behavior Is directed at attaining some future reinforcement or avoiding punishment and requires a stimulus that follows the response
CAN I? Explain key features of OC – Positive Reinforcement – Negative Reinforcement – Omission Training (Negative Punishment) – Punishment (positive punishment) Distinguish the Schedules of Reinforcement