reinforcement and punishment

operant conditioning

learning by consequence

reinforcement

increases probability of behaviour

punishment

decreases probability of behaviour

positive reinforcement

addition of stimuli to increase likelihood of behaviour eg. food or treats

appetitive stimulus

negative reinforcement

removal of stimuli to increase likelihood of behaviour eg. loud noise stops

aversive stimulus / state

escape, removal or avoidance

types of reinforcers

1. unconditioned (primary) reinforcers

2. conditioned (secondary)

3. generalised conditioned

unconditioned (primary) reinforcers

naturally reinforcing

effectiveness does not depend on learning or prior experience

eg. food, water, warmth, sexual stimulation

conditioned (secondary) reinforcers

acquire reinforcing value through association with unconditioned or other conditioned reinforcers

eg. sound paired with food

generalised conditioned reinforcers

do not depend on particular form of reinforcement

often based on social understanding

eg. money, praise, attention

positive punishment

addition of stimulus to decrease likelihood of behaviour eg. electric shock

negative punishment

removal of stimulus to decrease likelihood of behaviour eg. food taken away

Poling et al. 2010

rats clicker trained to sniff and detect land mines

food paired with clicker sound

sniff and pause in presence of TNT

factors affecting reinforcement

timing (contingency) - best if reinforcer delivered immediately after target behaviour

consistency - more constantly reinforcer follows behaviour, stronger the effect

Sajwaj et al. 1974

decreased life threatening rumination in a 6m old infant

using positive punishment

contingent delivery of small amount of lemon juice

punishment can be…

topographic or non-topographic

non-topographic punishment

punishing consequence is not related to the form of the problem behaviour

eg. contingent exercise in military for being late

topographic punishment

punishing response is similar or related to the problem behaviour

eg. child scribbles on wall and is made to clean it off

restitutional overcorrection

individual must correct the consequences of their mis-behaviour and restore the environment to a better state than it was before

positive practice overcorrection

individual must repeatedly engage in the correct or appropriate form of the behaviour