Reinforcement Schedules / what impacts learning

Continuous reinforcement

rewards given EVERY TIME good behavior occurs

Partial or Intermittent Reinforcement

rewards given only a part of the time

Fixed-ratio

reinforced only after a set number of times

• ex. every three assignments completed gets a gold star

Variable-ratio

reinforced after an unpredictable number of times

• ex. gambling (many tries to get a reward)

• produces long-lasting behavior because gets people addicted/ trying again for possible reward

fixed-interval

reinforced after a set time

• ex. a weekly paycheck

variable-interval

reinforced at unpredictable time intervals

• ex. pop quizzes with possible good grade (random time)

ratio

number of times

interval

time

Behavior modification

a combination of reinforcement and punishment to change behavior (most effective)

• ex. free manicure and sour nail polish to stop biting

Biofeedback

a system for electronically recording, amplifying, and feeding back biological information to a patient to help psychologically change a behavior

• ex. when a person is stressed and is told to take deep breaths, they can see their heart rate on a monitor and learn that they have agency/ control

Intrinsic motivation

a desire to preform a behavior for one’s own sake (passionate about…)

extrinsic motivation

a desire to preform a behavior for rewards or to offset punishment (ex. do a job because it pays good)

overjustification effect

when external incentives diminish ones intrinsic motivation

• ex. kid loves to read, but after getting paid to read books, only wants to read for money and not passionate about it anymore

Latent learning

hidden learning; occurs but isn’t apparent until there is a reinforcement to stimulate/ demonstrate it

• ex. rats wander around maze, but once cheese placed at end, use their knowledge to quickly reach it

Edward Tolman

developed latent learning with rat experiment