Operant Conditioned

Fixed-ratio

reinforcement for a fixed proportion of responses emitted

Variable- ratio

reward for some percentage of responses, but unpredictable number of responses required before reinforcement

fixed-interval

reinforcement for responses after a fixed amount of time

Variable-interval

reinforcement for responses after an amount of time that is not constant

Is punishment effective?

• It can be difficult to identify which behavior is being punished

• it may not eliminate existing rewards for the behavior

• harsh punishment can cause modeling of aggression

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Extrinsic motivation

pursuit of goal for external rewards

intrinsic motivation

pursuit of activity for its own sake

overjustification effect

too much rewards —> undermines intrinsic motivation

what is operant conditioning also known as

Instrumental conditioning

law of effect (Thorndike)

The tendency of an organism to produce a behavior depends on the effect of behavior has on the environment

“radical behaviorism” - B.F. Skinner

Behavior Wis controlled by its consequences

What is the Skinner box

A small, enclosed laboratory apparatus invented by psychologist B.F. Skinner to study animal behavior and learning

What was Thorndike's puzzle box?

A scientific apparatus created to study animal learning and intelligence. Small cage fitted with doors shut by latches. Hungry animals places inside and have to find a way to get to the food as a reward.

reinforcement

consequence of behavior that increases the probability that the behavior will occur.

punishment

consequence of behavior that decreases the probability that the behavior will occur

Shaping

reinforcing closer an closer approximations of the desired response

successive approximations

responses that are increasingly similar to the desired response

Positivce reinforcment

presentation of a pleasant stimulus after a behavior —> increases probability of behavior

negative reinforcement

removal of an unpleasant stimulus after a behavior —> increases probability of behavior

Positive punishment

unpleasant stimulus follows behavior —> decreases probability of behavior

Negative punishment

removal of pleasant stimulus after a behavior —> decreases probability of behavior.

Ex. positive reinforcement

good: you finish your hw and your parents give you dessert, so you’re more likely to do hw on time

bad: A kid throws tantrum in ang store and gets candy, so tantrums become more likely

Negative reinforcement

Good: You study for a class and your anxiety about the exam goes down so you study more

bad: a kid whines until a parents stops asking them to do chores. The nagging stopped so whining worked.

Positive Punishment

Good: You touch a hot stove and get burned, so you stop touching it

Bad: harsh punishment like yelling can create fear and kids may learn to hide the behavior instead of stopping it

negative punishment

Good: A teen stays out past curfew and loses their phone for a week, so they come home on time

Bad: taking away something too big or for too long can lead to resentment and it doesn’t change anything.

Generalization

after a behavior is reinforced in one situation it is performed in a different situation

Discrimination

a behavior that is reinforced in one situation is not performed in a different situation

Extinction

after the reinforcer is withdrawn, the behavior decreasessp

spontaneous recovery

after extinction, the behavior reappears.

Continuous reinforcement

consequences are the same each time the behavior occurs

intermittent (partial) reinforcement

consequences are give only some of the times the behavior occurs

Which type of schedule of reinforcement is better?

Continuous is more effective for initial learning and establishing new behaviors

intermittent is better for long term maintenance.

Ratio schedules of reinforcement

reinforcement is given after the behavior is exhibited a certain number of timesin

interval schedules of reinforcement

reinforcement is given after a certain amount of time