1. Analyzing Behavior The ABC ‘s of Operant Conditioning AntecedentsBehaviorConsequences Operant Response 1. Reinforcers 2. Punishers 1. Discriminative Stimulus (S D ) 2. Delta Stimulus (S )

2. Analyzing Behavior The ABC ‘s of Operant Conditioning Operant Conditioning Chamber (“Skinner Box”)

3. Analyzing Behavior The ABC ‘s of Operant Conditioning B ehavior Operant Response: a set of actions that all have the same effect on the environment. For example, in an operant conditioning chamber (“Skinner Box”), the response is defined as a “bar press”. The bar has to go down a certain distance. It doesn’t matter which paw the rat uses.

4. Analyzing Behavior The ABC ‘s of Operant Conditioning C onsequences Reinforcer: a stimulus that follows a response and results in an increase in the chances that the response will be repeated. For example, after the rat presses the bar, a food pellet (stimulus) is presented. The rat is then more likely to press the bar again (compared to a condition where bar pressing produced no food).

5. Analyzing Behavior The ABC ‘s of Operant Conditioning C onsequences Punisher: a stimulus that follows a response and results in a decrease in the chances that the response will be repeated. For example, every time the rat presses the bar for food, he receives an electric shock. He will probably keep pressing but with longer delays between bar presses.

6. Analyzing Behavior The ABC ‘s of Operant Conditioning C onsequences Key point: reinforcers and punishers are defined by their effects on behavior, not by your intentions... While watching the 3 Stooges, 5-year-old Billy pokes his 4- year-old sister. His father says, “Stop that!” A minute later, Billy does it again, and his father yells at him. A few seconds later, Billy laughs and gives little Kelly another poke. In terms of operant conditioning, why did the poking response increase rather than decrease? Answer: the scoldings are a reinforcer.

7. Analyzing Behavior The ABC ‘s of Operant Conditioning A ntecedents Discriminative stimulus: a stimulus that comes before a response; it signals that if the response occurs, it may be reinforced. Delta stimulus: a stimulus that comes before a response and signals that it will not be reinforced.

8. Analyzing Behavior The ABC ‘s of Operant Conditioning A nalyze this... Billy’s father leaves the room for a few minutes to answer the telephone. While he is out of the room, Billy stops poking his sister. But when his father comes back in, Billy starts doing it again. Why? Answer: The father’s presence is an S D; it signals that poking responses will be reinforced by attention. His absence is an S. It signals that poking responses will receive no attention.

9. Analyzing Behavior The ABC ‘s of Operant Conditioning A ntecedents Discrimination: a situation in which a certain response (like poking) is more likely to occur when one stimulus is present (father present) than when another stimulus is present (father absent). Stimulus control: control of a response by a discriminative stimulus. Billy’s poking response is under stimulus control: his father’s presence.