Operant Conditioning - BF Skinner

BF Skinner

he developed a learning theory called Behaviorism where the main idea is every behavior is shaped by it’s consequences through reinforcement or punishment

Operant conditioning

it is is a learning method that employs rewards and punishments for behavior

Behavior

it is an action performed that can be influenced by its consequences, and it is subjected to change through reinforcement or punishment

example:

behavior- crime

Consequence

is is what happens after the behavior, the consequence can either be good or bad based on if the behavior is good or bad also.

There are 2 kinds of consequences to influence behavior

• reinforcement

• punishment

example:

behavior- crime

consequence (police pov)- bad behavior

consequence (outlaw pov)- good behavior

Reinforcement

A consequence that increases the likelihood of the behavior

2 subtypes

• positive reinforcement

• negative reinforcement

Positive Reinforcement

Adding something pleasant to reinforce the behavior

example:

behavior- crime

consequence (outlaw)- good behavior

positive reinforcement- paying him money to encourage him to do the same behavior (which is a crime) again

Negative Reinforement

Removing something unpleasant to reinforce the behavior

example:

behavior- crime

consequence (outlaw)- good behavior

negative reinforcement- whenever he is injured and in pain after committing the crime, the outlaws will heal/treat him to remove his pain (removing the unpleasant) to encourage him to commit the behavior (crime) again

Punishment

A consequence that will decrease the likelihood of the behavior

Positive Punishment

Adding something unpleasant to discourage the behavior

example:

behavior- crime

consequence (police)- bad behavior

positive punishment- imprisonment and payment to discourage him to commit the behavior (crime) again

Negative Punishment

Removing something pleasant to discourage the behavior

example:

behavior- crime

consequence (police)- bad behavior

negative punishment- he will lose his freedom to discourage him from commiting the behavior (crime) again

Shaping

it is the process of gradually teaching a new behavior by reinforcing small steps that get closer and closer to the desired behavior

example:

learning backflip

Jumping with good form
Reinforce proper vertical jumping.

Adding a tuck mid-air
Reinforce when the jumper starts tucking their knees.

Practicing backward rotation safely
Reinforce attempts using mats, trampolines, or spotters.

Performing the full backflip
Reinforce only when a complete flip is done, with or without assistance.

Target Behavior

it is the goal behavior you want to achieve, and to achieve it you must learn it by shaping

example:

your target behavior is to achieve your goal of learning backflips. You must be able to execute backflips with confidence, perfection, and without needing assistance

Continuous reinforcement

Innate behavior (Instinct)

a natural and automatic behavior of an organism, it is unlearned, automatic, shared across species, and helps with survival and reproduction.

it is hereditary and passed down to offspring

example: baby birds automatically flapping their wings to fly, although with struggle because it’s their first time

Simple innate behavior

• reflexes - an unconscious, quick, automatic, and involuntary response to a specific stimulus, usually to protect itself

• taxis - a directional moment in response to stimulus

• kinesis - a non-directional movement in response to the intensity of a stimulus

Complex innate behavior

• fixed action pattern

• migration

• circadian rhythm

Learned behavior

• habit

• conditioned

• insight learning

Aversive control

is under negative reinforcement, it is process in operant conditioning that uses unpleasant stimuli (aversive stimuli) to influence behavior, either to decrease unwanted behavior or to increase a behavior that helps avoid or escape the unpleasant situation

it has two kinds

• escape conditioning

• avoidance conditioning

Avoidance conditioning

The organism learns to perform a behavior to prevent the aversive stimulus from occurring at all

example:

The student studies early to avoid being scolded

Escape conditioning

The organism learns to perform a behavior to stop or "escape" an already-present aversive stimulus.

example:

the child finishes homework to make the parent’s stop yapping

Partial reinforcement

also called intermittent reinforcement means the behavior is not reinforced every time it happens, only sometimes. It makes the behavior more resistant to extinction and more common in real life than continuous reinforcement

there are 4 kinds

• fixed-ratio (amount)

• fixed-interval (time)

• variable-ratio (amount)

• variable interval (time)

Fixed-ratio

Based on the numbers of responses

example: you will gain increase for every 5 items you sold

Fixed-interval

based on fixed time

example: salary every quincenas is constant and fixed

Variable-ratio

based on a random number of response

example: in gambling you will never know when you will win, you would after 1 game or 100 games you will never know

Variable-interval

based on random time

example: a sudden inspection of your boss on your workplace