Read and respond for your class starter:

• Read the “Exploring Psychology” section on p. 250.

• How did the therapists use the comforts to get the woman to eat?

Operant Conditioning

• Learning from the consequences of behavior

• B.F. Skinner– Psychologist credited with formulating the

principles of operant conditioning

Reinforcement

• Stimulus or event that follows a response – Increases likelihood of repetition of response

• Positive – Reward for behavior

• Negative– Unpleasant item is taken away

• Primary Reinforcer– Satisfies biological need: water

• Secondary Reinforcer– Stimulus linked to primary reinforcer: money

Schedules of Reinforcement

• Fixed-ratio schedule– Specified number of responses required before

obtaining reinforcement

• Variable-ratio schedule– Do not know number of responses required to obtain

reinforcement

• Fixed-interval schedule– Specific amount of time before reinforcement

• Variable-interval schedule– Changing amounts of time elapse before

reinforcement obtained

Aversive Control

• Unpleasant events can affect behavior

• Negative Reinforcement• Unpleasant stimulus removed

– Two Types• Escape conditioning

– Behavior causes unpleasant event to stop

• Avoidance Conditioning– Behavior prevents an unpleasant event from happening

Punishment

• Behavior is not repeated b/c of unpleasant consequences

• Disadvantages– Side effects such as rage, aggression and

fear– Avoid the person delivering the punishment

• Also need positive coaching and modeling