Operant ConditioningUnit 3- Module 15 notes

Operant Conditioning Definition:

A type of learning in which the frequency of a behavior depends on the consequence that follows that behavior

Developed from an idea known as the Law of Effect Behaviors with favorable consequences

will occur more frequently Behaviors with unfavorable consequences

will occur less frequently

Operant Conditioning Reinforcement

Any consequence that increases the future likelihood of a behavior

Punishment Any consequence that decreases the

future likelihood of a behavior The LEARNER determines if a

consequences is a reinforcement or a punishment!

Operant Conditioning A student skips

class because she doesn’t really like school. As a result, she is suspended.

Is this a punishment or a reinforcement?

Operant Conditioning Reinforcement- two types

Positive reinforcement Anything that increased the likelihood of a

behavior by following it with a desirable event or state

Example: pay for grades

Operant Conditioning Negative Reinforcement

Anything that increases the likelihood of a behavior by following it with the removal of an undesirable event or state

Negative DOES NOT mean “bad”- it means that something is being “subtracted”

Example- taking aspirin for a headache Since the headache goes away, then the

behavior of taking aspirin is negatively enforced

Operant Conditioning A child throws a

tantrum in a store because he wants some candy. Mom buys the child candy and the tantrum stops

The end of the tantrum negatively reinforced the mother’s behavior of buying candy.

Operant Conditioning Immediate vs Delayed Reinforcement Taking Meth produces a high in the short

term (immediate reinforcement)- the long term effects include loss of pleasure, insomnia, paranoia, aged skin, loss of teeth, and increases the likelihood of stroke, brain damage, and death (delayed reinforcement)

Immediate Reinforcement can be more powerful, but delayed reinforcement can be more gratifying in the long run

Operant Conditioning

Operant Conditioning Primary vs Secondary Reinforcement

Primary Something that is naturally reinforcing (food

if you are hungry, for example) Secondary

Something that you have learned to value Is money a primary or secondary

reinforcer? Secondary- by itself, it has no value. But we

have learned that we can spend it for things that we desire

Operant Conditioning Punishment- 2 forms

Positive punishment: behavior leads to something undesirable

Example: touching a hot stove burn your hand, decreases likelihood that you’ll touch the stove again

Operant Conditioning Negative Punishment: the behavior ends

something desirable Example: Getting caught sneaking out

of the house and having cell phone taken away

Operant Conditioning Problems with punishment

May not end the desire to engage in the behavior If you get caught cussing in the hallway and

are given a detention, will you never cuss again?

May lead to fear and anxiety Overly harsh parenting may lead to run-

aways

Operant Conditioning What makes punishment effective?

Usually most effective when used as little as possible

Operant Conditioning Shaping

Reinforcing behaviors that are similar to a behavior that you want to teach

Example: learning to ride a bike

Operant Conditioning Just like in Classical Conditioning, we can

observe discrimination and extinction in Operant Conditioning

Discrimination- getting up to leave a classroom when the bell rings, but not getting up to leave when the intercom tones go off

Extinction- if the mother of the tantrum throwing toddler does NOT give the child candy, then the child will eventually stop throwing tantrums

Operant Conditioning Schedules of reinforcement

Continuous Reinforcement- reward follows every correct response (example: child gets $1 every morning he makes his bed) Most useful for teaching new behaviors Behavior can be extinguished quickly- why?

Constant rewards are needed and EXPECTED

Operant Conditioning Partial Reinforcement

Reward only follows some correct responses- not all

Example: lottery 2 categories (4 types)

Interval schedules- focus on time that elapses

Ration schedules- focus on number of responses

Operant Conditioning Fixed-Interval Schedule

Rewards only the 1st correct response after some defined period of time has passed

Example: Mr Wood’s Monday quizzes! Reinforced (grade), behavior (studying),

fixed-interval (once a week)

Operant Conditioning Variable-Interval Schedule

Rewards the first correct response after an unpredictable amount of time has passed

Example- attendance quizzes in college courses

Operant Conditioning Fixed-Ratio Schedule

Reward only after a certain number of correct responses

Example: Qdoba, Rainsing Canes rewards cards

Operant Conditioning Variable- Ratio Schedule

Rewards an unpredictable number of correct responses

Example: Lottery, Slot machines, gambling