1. Do Now
Describe operant conditioning and one situation where is has applied to a behavior you do.

2. Operant Conditioning: Skinner’s Experiment
Unit 6 : Learning
Operant Conditioning: Skinner’s Experiment

3. General Intro Respondent Behavior Operant Conditioning B.F. Skinner
Classical
A behavior that is an automatic response
EX: salivating
Operant Conditioning
Learning a behavior based on reinforcers or punishments
EX: getting good grades because your mom gives you money for As
B.F. Skinner
Skinner Box
Press the bar to get the food
Pressing bar = behavior; getting food = positive reinforcement

4. Thorndike’s Law of Effect
Edward Thorndike
Getting something good will increase a behavior
Getting something bad will decrease a behavior
These principles guided B.F. Skinner
Skinner Experiment
Skinner box
aka operant chamber
Shaping Behavior
Theory used to shape
desired behaviors

5. Reinforcers Reinforcer Any event that STRENGTHENS a behavior
Positive = add something
Usually add something good/desirable
Negative = take something away
Usually take something bad away

6. Expanding Reinforcers
Primary reinforce
Satisfies a biological need
EX: food, water
Conditioned reinforcer
Secondary reinforce
Reinforcer associated with a primary
EX: Hitting the bar to get the food, or getting money because then you can go buy food
Immediate vs. Delayed reinforce
Instant reward vs. reward over time
Unprotected sex vs. weekly paycheck

7. Schedules of Reinforcement
Continuous Reinforcement = reward after every behavior

9. Practice – write the correct answer in your notes
1. You get paid once every two weeks.
Fixed Interval
2. Slot machines at casinos payoff after a certain number of plays.
Variable Ratio
3. Students are released from class when the end-of-the-period bell rings.
Interval or Continuous Reinforcement
4. You get a nickel for every pop can that you return.
Fixed Ratio
5. Sometimes the mail is delivered at 1:00, sometimes at 3:00.
Variable Interval
6. A car salesman who gets a commission on each sale.
Continuous Reinforcement
7. Getting a small increase in your hourly wage every 6 months.
8. Honor roll is announced every 9 weeks and prizes are given out.

10. Punishment Punishment
An event that decreases the behavior that follows it
Positive = adding something
Usually adding something bad
Negative = taking something away
Usually taking away something good

11. Drawbacks of Punishment
Drawbacks Negatives of using punishment
Punished behavior is suppressed not forgotten
Punishment teaches discrimination
Punishment can teach fear
Physical punishment may increase aggression

12. Today Practice Operant Conditioning Begin HW
HW = Operant Conditioning: Extending Skinner, legacy, & comparing