1. Classical vs. Operant Conditioning
With classical conditioning you can teach a dog to salivate, but you cannot teach it to roll over.
Why?
Classical conditioning consists of involuntary/automatic behaviors
Sweating, getting sick, getting nervous, salivating
Operant conditioning consists of voluntary behavior based on consequences
Reinforcers increase, punishers decrease

2. Learning based on consequence!!!
Operant Conditioning
B.F. Skinner Mastermind
Learning based on consequence!!!

3. Edward Thorndike The Law of Effect
Behavior changes due to consequence
Rewards leads to reoccurrence of behavior
Discomfort, behavior is less likely to reoccur

4. Reinforcers ANYTHING THAT INCREASES A BEHAVIOR Positive Reinforcement:
The addition of something pleasant
Sheldon trains Penny (2:45)
Negative Reinforcement:
The removal of something unpleasant

5. Examples of reinforcement
The situation
What is reinforced?
Depends on whose perspective you see the situation.
Billy: Could you tie my shoes? Dad: (Continues to read the paper) Billy: Dad, I need my shoes tied! Dad: Uh, yeah, just a minute Billy: DAAAAAD! TIE MY SHOES!! Dad: How many times have I told you not to whine? Now, which shoe do we tie first?
Billy’s
Positive reinforcement:
Gets his dad’s attention
Dad
Negative reinforcement:
Eliminates Billy’s whining

6. Two types of negative reinforcers
If you hate going to class you learn how to remove the unpleasant stimuli
Escape Learning
Getting kicked out of class
Avoidance Learning
Cutting class

7. Positive or Negative Reinforcement?
Taking aspirin when you have a headache.
Putting your seatbelt on to eliminate the beeping noise.
Studying to alleviate
test anxiety
Negative: you would repeat the behavior to eliminate the pain
Getting a kiss for doing the dishes.
Breaking out of jail to gain freedom.
Faking sick to avoid a Psych test.

8. How do we actually use Operant Conditioning?
Shaping is reinforcing small steps on the way to the desired behavior.
Chaining: performing a number of responses successively to get the reward
Point of shaping is to mold a single behavior; goal of chaining is to link behavior to create a complex activity

9. Primary v. Secondary Reinforcers
Primary Reinforcer
Secondary Reinforcer
Things that are in themselves rewarding.
Things we have learned to value.
Money is generalized reinforcer (it can be traded for anything)

10. Token Economy
Every time a desired behavior is performed, a token is given.
Tokens are traded for prizes/rewards
Used in homes, prisons, mental institutions, schools

11. Continuous v. Partial Reinforcement
Reinforce the behavior EVERYTIME the behavior is exhibited.
Acquisition comes really fast….but so does extinction.
Reinforce the behavior only SOME of the times it is exhibited.
Acquisition comes more slowly.
But is more resistant to extinction.

12. Intermittent reinforcement: Ratio Schedules
Variable Ratio
Fixed Ratio
Provides a reinforcement after a RANDOM number of responses.
Gambling & lottery
Most resistant to extinction (hard to walk away)
Provides a reinforcement after a SET number of responses.
For every 5 pounds I lose, I get a manicure!
Every 3 college essays you write, you watch 1 hour of tv

13. Intermittent reinforcement: Interval Schedules
Fixed Interval
Variable Interval
Requires a SET amount of time to pass before giving the reinforcement.
Requires a RANDOM amount of time to pass before giving the reinforcement.
She gets a manicure for every 7 days she stays on her diet.
PAYCHECK EVERY 2 WEEKS!
Pop-Quiz
Randomly checking throughout the day

14. Candy for Homework Fixed-ratio Every 3 attempts Variable-ratio
After 4 attempts, then 2 attempts (although that may take days or weeks)
Fixed-interval
You get candy for every 3 days you did your hw.
Variable-interval
You get candy after 3 days, then after 4 days, then after 2 days

15. Punishment Meant to decrease a behavior.
Positive Punishment
Addition of something unpleasant
Negative Punishment
Removal of something pleasant
Punishment works best when it is immediately done after behavior!

16. Uses and Abuses of Punishment
The wrong kinds of punishments will not work for 4 reasons:
1. One getting punished will discriminate environments
What you get punished for at home, you may not get caught at school
2. Physical punishment increases aggressiveness (modeling)
How would you solve a problem at school if you see hitting at home?

17. Uses and Abuses of Punishment
3. Punishment trigger fear
Why tell the truth if I know what’s coming…
4. Punishment is often applied
unequally and doesn’t address
the behavior.
Damaged my tree and he missed hockey

18. Making Punishment Work
To make punishment work it should be…
must be given immediately
limited in time & intensity.
clearly target the behavior, not the person
The most effective punishment is often negative punishment.

19. IT’S ALL IN THE WAY YOU PHRASE IT
Instead of: “Clean your room or you do not get dinner” Try: “You’re welcome to join us for dinner once your room is clean” What punishment often teaches is how to avoid it. Premack Principle: Using a preferred activity to reinforce an activity that is not preferred You love twitter, but hate homework When you finish your homework, you can play on twitter