1. Thinking About Psychology: The Science of Mind and Behavior Charles T. Blair-Broeker Randal M. Ernst

2. Operant Conditioning Module 16

3. What is Operant Conditioning? Module 16: Operant Conditioning

4. 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.

5. The Law of Effect Module 16: Operant Conditioning

6. Edward Thorndike (1874-1949) Author of the law of effect Behaviors with favorable consequences will occur more frequently. Behaviors with unfavorable consequences will occur less frequently. Created puzzle boxes for research on cats

7. Thorndike’s Puzzle Box

8. B.F. Skinner (1904-1990) Developed the fundamental principles and techniques of operant conditioning and devised ways to apply them in the real world Designed the Skinner Box, or operant chamber

9. 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

10. Reinforcement Module 16: Operant Conditioning

11. 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

12. Positive Reinforcement

13. Negative Reinforcement Anything that increases the likelihood of a behavior by following it with the removal of an undesirable event or state Something the subject doesn’t like is removed Will strengthen the behavior

14. Negative Reinforcement

15. Positive/Negative Reinforcement

16. Reinforcement: Immediate Versus Delayed Reinforcement Module 16: Operant Conditioning

17. Immediate/Delayed Reinforcement Immediate reinforcement is more effective than delayed reinforcement Ability to delay gratification predicts higher achievement

18. Reinforcement: Primary Versus Secondary Reinforcement Module 16: Operant Conditioning

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

21. 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

23. Punishment: The Process of Punishment Module 16: Operant Conditioning

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

26. Punishment: Problems With Punishment Module 16: Operant Conditioning

27. 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.

28. 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

29. Some Reinforcement Procedures: Shaping Module 16: Operant Conditioning

30. Shaping Reinforcement of behaviors that are more and more similar to the one you want to occur Technique used to establish a new behavior

31. Some Reinforcement Procedures: Discrimination and Extinction Module 16: Operant Conditioning

32. Discrimination The ability to distinguish between two similar stimuli Learning to respond to one stimuli but not to a similar stimuli

33. Extinction In operant conditioning, the loss of a conditioned behavior when consequences no longer follow it. The subject no longer responds since the reinforcement or punishment has stopped.

34. Schedules of Reinforcement: Continuous Reinforcement Module 16: Operant Conditioning

35. 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.

36. Schedules of Reinforcement: Partial Reinforcement Module 16: Operant Conditioning

37. Partial Reinforcement A schedule of reinforcement in which a reward follows only some correct responses Includes the following types: –Fixed-interval and variable interval –Fixed-ratio and variable-ratio

38. Fixed-Interval Schedule A partial reinforcement schedule that rewards only the first correct response after some defined period of time i.e. weekly quiz in a class

39. Variable-Interval Schedule A partial reinforcement that rewards the first correct response after an unpredictable amount of time i.e. “pop” quiz in a class

40. 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.

41. Variable-Ratio Schedule A partial reinforcement schedule that rewards an unpredictable number of correct responses This schedule is very resistant to extinction. Sometimes called the “gambler’s schedule”; similar to a slot machine

42. Schedules of Reinforcement

43. New Understandings of Operant Conditioning: The Role of Cognition Module 16: Operant Conditioning

44. Latent Learning Learning that takes place in absence of an apparent reward

45. Cognitive Map A mental representation of a place Experiments showed rats could learn a maze without any reinforcements

46. Overjustification Effect The effect of promising a reward for doing what someone already likes to do The reward may lessen and replace the person’s original, natural motivation, so that the behavior stops if the reward is eliminated

47. New Understandings of Operant Conditioning: The Role of Biology Module 16: Operant Conditioning

48. Biological Predisposition Research suggests some species are biologically predisposed to learn specific behaviors

49. The End