Module 16 Operant Conditioning Chapter 5, Pages Essentials of Understanding Psychology- Sixth Edition PSY110 Psychology © Richard Goldman October 19, 2006

Operant Conditioning Learned Response - learned by associating rewards or punishments with a activity

Thorndike's Law of Effect (Connectionism) Responses that lead to satisfying consequences are more likely to be repeated. Edward Lee Thorndike 8/31/ 1874 – 8/9/1949)

Reinforcers Reinforcer – Stimulus that increases the likelihood of a particular behavior Primary Reinforcer – Satisfies biological need (food, etc.) Secondary Reinforcer – Associated with primary reinforcer (money, etc.) Negative Reinforcer – Removal of a positive reinforcer, primary or secondary, (time-out, grounding, etc.)

Punishment Stimulus decrease the likelihood of a behavior – (spanking, jail, fines, etc.) Produces:  Avoidance activity  Resentment To be effective:  Must be immediate  Must be severe enough to discourage behavior Least effective method of learning

Reinforcement Schedules Fixed-ratio – Rewards given at a fixed rate per performance  Hourly employee’s paycheck  Requires strict adherence to reward schedule Variable-ratio – Rewards given at an unknown rate  Slot machine  Very effective Fixed-interval – Rewards given at fixed time  Salaried employee’s paycheck  Least effective Variable-interval – Reward given at a unknown time intervals  Pop quizzes  More effective

Shaping Behavior Teaching a complex behavior by rewarding closer and closer approximation of the desired behavior. (Successive approximations)

Behavior Modification Formal procedure to increase or decrease a behavior: 1. Identify target behavior 2. Design data recording system 3. Establish baseline 4. Start program (Reinforcing Behavior) 5. Record Data 6. Evaluate Data Informal behavior modification is normal part of how we normally interact with others.