Psychology PSYC 101 Notes

Understanding Behaviorism in Psychology

Definition of Behaviorism

  • Behaviorism:

    • A psychological theory that emphasizes the role of observable behaviors in understanding mental processes. It advocates for studying behavior through direct observation and focuses on how behavior is conditioned through interactions with the environment.

Key Components of Behaviorism

  • Operant Conditioning:

    • The process by which a subject learns a behavior by associating it with consequences. This involves reinforcement or punishment that affects the likelihood of the behavior being repeated.

  • Classical Conditioning:

    • The process whereby a subject learns to associate two unrelated stimuli with each other. This leads to a conditioned response from originally neutral stimuli.

Review of Behaviorism

  • Behaviorism can be critically understood through the two primary types of conditioning: Operant conditioning and classical conditioning.

Goals of Today's Class

  • Describe the terminology and principles associated with operant conditioning.

  • Understand the applications of operant conditioning.

Understanding Operant Conditioning

Basic Principles of Operant Conditioning

  • Action and Result:

    • Behavior can be influenced by its consequences, which can increase or decrease the likelihood of the behavior occurring in the future.

  • Reinforcement vs. Punishment:

    • Reinforcement:

    • Positive Reinforcement:

      • Adding something 'good' to increase behavior.

      • Example: Cash rewards for good performance.

    • Negative Reinforcement:

      • Removing something 'bad' to increase behavior.

      • Example: Taking pain relief medication to reduce pain.

    • Punishment:

    • Positive Punishment:

    • Adding something 'bad' to decrease behavior.

    • Example: Standing on a cold surface as a form of punishment.

    • Negative Punishment:

    • Removing something 'good' to decrease behavior.

    • Example: Taking away privileges like screen time.

Reinforcement vs. Punishment

  • Consideration of whether reinforcement or punishment is more effective in influencing behavior:

    • Limitations of Punishment:

    • Punishment may not always be appropriate or constructive.

    • Children often respond better to reinforcement than to punishment, promoting a more positive learning environment.

  • Temporal Effects:

    • The timing between behavior and consequence affects behavior.

    • Immediate reinforcements often overshadow delayed punishments, leading to a preference for immediate gratification (e.g., consuming candy despite health consequences).

Superstitious Conditioning

Superstitious Pigeons Study

  • Study conducted to understand how superstitions can form through operant conditioning.

    • Findings:

    • Behaviors that coincidentally occurred before reinforcement were learned as linked to the reinforcement, regardless of any causal relationship.

    • The study shows that learning depends on associations made in the learner's mind rather than the actual relationships between actions and outcomes.

Behavior Modification Techniques

Delayed Reinforcement

  • Receiving reinforcement after a behavior has occurred can be challenging.

    • Example: Paychecks received after work exemplify delayed reinforcement, complicating immediate behavior adjustments.

    • Delay Discounting:

    • Future consequences perceived as less impactful than immediate ones often lead to impulsive decisions.

    • This principle can result in increased susceptibility to addiction or unhealthy behaviors.

Premack Principle

  • The notion that more frequently engaged behaviors can be used to reinforce less desired behaviors.

    • Example: "You must finish your vegetables before dessert."

Shaping

  • Definition of Shaping:

    • The gradual process of reinforcing actions that are closer to a desired target behavior.

    • Begin with loosely related behaviors and progressively reinforce actions that approach the target behavior.

    • Applications:

    • Teaching complex animal behaviors or assisting individuals with phobias can be tackled through shaping, facilitating gradual exposure and learning.

Social Learning Theory

Observational Learning

  • Observing and imitating behaviors from others without direct experience leads to a quicker understanding of complex behaviors.

    • This method diminishes the trial-and-error aspect of other learning types.

    • It overlaps with concepts from operant and classical conditioning, enhancing overall learning efficiency.

Learning on Schedule

Schedules of Reinforcement

  • The reinforcement method employed heavily influences behavior maintenance.

  • Different types include:

    • Continuous Reinforcement Schedule:

    • Behavior rewarded every time it is performed (quick acquisition but also quick extinction).

    • Example: Vending machines reward coins every time but cease use after failure to deliver a product.

    • Partial (Intermittent) Reinforcement Schedule:

    • Rewards are given only sometimes, leading to stronger, more persistent behavior.

    • Fixed-Ratio Schedule:

      • Specific number of actions must occur before a reward (e.g., a bonus for every five sales).

    • Behavior may dip briefly post-reward but tends to accelerate as the reward approaches.

    • Variable-Ratio Schedule:

      • Average number of actions needed for a reward, less predictable than fixed-ratio.

      • Maintains high levels of behavior; unpredictability can lead to addictive behaviors such as gambling.

Looking Ahead

  • Upcoming Assignments:

    • InQuizitive for Chapter 6 due on Wednesday.

    • Reading Chapter 7 and reviewing Hock #16 are required next.