Operant Conditioning Part 1 - Training Techniques

Operant conditioning

The process in which behavioral change occurs as a function of the consequences of behavior

Aspects of Reinforcers (Primary)

Fulfills basic needs

Aspects of Reinforcers (Secondary)

Not as important

Not viewed as want or desire

Law of effect

Reinforcement strengthens behavior

Punishment weakens behavior

Shaping

An operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior

Instinctive drift

The tendency of learned behavior to gradually revert to biologically predisposed patterns

Reinforcement

Any event that strengthens the behavior it follows

Punishment

Any event that tends to decrease the behavior that it follows

Positive reinforcement

Strengthens behavior by giving you something you like

Positive punishment

Weakens behavior by giving you something you don’t like

Negative reinforcement

Strengthens behavior by taking away something you don’t like

Negative punishment

Weakens behavior by taking away something you like

Learned helplessness

The hopelessness and positive resignation humans and other animals learn when unable to avoid repeated aversive events

Associated with depression

Continuous reinforcement

Reward given after every correct response

Partial reinforcement

Reward given only some of the time

Fixed Ratio

An arrangement in which reinforcement is given after a specified number of responses

Variable Ratio

A type of intermittent reinforcement in which a response is reinforced after an unpredictable or average number of responses

Most resistant to extinction (Subject won’t get bored)

Fixed interval

An arrangement in which the first response that occurs after a set interval has elapsed is reinforced

Moderate and erratic response data

Variable interval

The reward is presented for the first response after a variable period has elapsed since the previous reinforcement; not dependent on the number of responses during the interval