Operant Conditioning • Preamble: Skinner believed that we
both predict & control behaviour. • Thus by manipulating the
environment, you can manipulate behaviour
• Defined as: A learning process in which the consequences which follow a response determine whether the behaviour will be repeated
• Behaviour will likely be repeated which has reinforced
• And tend not to be repeated with punishment
Skinners experiments with rats The Skinner Box
Skinner Box – Postive Reinforcement• Initially behaviour was random, but can inadvertently tripped lever
and was rewarded with a food pellet• The rat didn’t take long to learn that the lever represented a means
of obtaining the reinforcer• The consequence of receiving food (a desirable stimulus) for lever
pressing ensured that it would repeat the action• Skinner was initially using a continuous reinforcement schedule• .
Skinner Box: Negative Reinforcement• Rat was subjected to unpleasant
electric current• Accidental lever pressing – switched
off electric current• The consequence of escaping the
electric current (an aversive stimulus) ensured that it would repeat the action (of lever pressing)
• Subsequently: A light would be switched on, just prior to electric current
• Thus lever pressing after the light was negatively reinforced
Top Related