Week 8 Concepts Learning Objectives

What are two pragmatic benefits of differential reinforcement?

• Provides the opportunity to teach an adaptive behavior

• Decreases the frequency of extinction bursts and extinction-induced aggression

What is differential reinforcement of incompatible behaviors (DRI)

Reinforcing a behavior that cannot be emitted simultaneously with the unwanted behavior while withholding reinforcement for unwanted behaviors

What is differential reinforcement of alternative behaviors? (DRA)

Reinforcing ANY alternative to the unwanted behavior while withholding reinforcement for unwanted behaviors.

how are differential reinforcement of alternative and incompatible behaviors similar and different?

In both DRA and DRI, the TX is placed on extinction. In DRA, other behaviors that serve the same function as TX are reinforced where in DRI behaviors that cannot occur at the same time as TX are reinforced

What is differential reinforcement of other behaviors (DRO)?

Reinforcing the absence of TX during a specified time interval. Also considered DR of zero occurrence

Compare and contrast differential reinforcement of high rates of behaviors and low rates of behaviors.

DRH and DRL are similar as reinforcement is contingent on a specific criterion. The difference is DRH’s goal is to increase rate of behavior and based on set # of responses. DRL is to decrease and reinforcement based on IRT

Differential reinforcement of low rates of behavior (DRL)

providing a reinforcer only when the behavior is separated by a specified period of time

Differential reinforcement of high rates of behavior (DRH)

providing a reinforcer only when a predetermined number of responses occur during a specific interval of time

What are two reasons to reject mentalistic explanations for motivation?

-              Mentalistic explanations of motivation default to circular reasoning

-              Mentalistic accounts leave us without the ability to affect change

Motivating operations (MOs)

an environmental and/or biological event that has two functions

Establishing operations

increases value of stimulus as a reinforcer and has evocative effects

Abolishing operation

decreases value of stimulus as a reinforcer and has abative effects

Describe the two effects of a motivating operation

• value altering

• behavior altering

value altering effects

a change in the frequency (increase or decrease) of a behavior that has been reinforced by some stimulus, object, or event. operates on the environment

behavior altering effects

a change (increase or decrease) in the reinforcing effectiveness of a stimulus, operates on stimulus

list and explain the four dimensions of effective use of reinforcement

• response-contingent

• reinforcer size

• reinforcer quality

• reinforcer immediacy

response-contingent

reinforcers delivered after the behavior occurs. Non-contingent reinforcement often used as a control condition

Reinforcer size

the larger the reinforcer, the more effective and the quicker to satiation

Reinforcer quality

refers to the subjective value of reinforcer. What is a reinforcer for one, may not be for another. Highly preferred for difficult behaviors

Reinforcer immediacy

Research demonstrates that the closer the reinforcer is in temporal relation to the behavior, more effective it is

what phylogenetic reasons may account for why immediacy of reinforcement is important for learning

the larger the delay between the behavior and reinforcer, the more likely you were to die. while waiting, other predators could attack