Chapter_6_Operant_Conditioning-3

Operant Conditioning Overview

• Definition: A type of learning where behavior becomes more likely to recur if followed by a reinforcer, less likely if followed by a punisher.

Need for Operant Conditioning

• Classical conditioning alone (e.g., dog salivating) is limited.

• Operant conditioning enables learning complex behaviors (e.g., teaching an elephant to walk on hind legs).

Comparison of Classical and Operant Conditioning

• Classical Conditioning: Forms associations between stimuli (conditional stimuli and unconditional stimuli) and involves automatic, respondent behaviors.

• Operant Conditioning: Organisms associate actions with consequences; actions followed by reinforcement increase; actions followed by punishments decrease.

Key Concepts

• Respondent Behavior: Automatic responses to stimuli in classical conditioning.

• Operant Behavior: Behavior operating on the environment.

Law of Effect

• Thorndike's principle: Behaviors followed by favorable consequences tend to be repeated; unfavorable consequences tend to reduce behaviors.

Skinner's Experiments

• Skinner Box: An operant chamber designed by B.F. Skinner for experiments involving reinforcement.

• Mechanism: Includes a lever (or key) to receive rewards (food/water) and a device to record responses.

• Concept of Reinforcement: Any event that strengthens a preceding response. Types differ by context and animal.

Definitions

• Operant Chamber: A device used in operant conditioning experiments to record response rates.

• Reinforcement: Any event that strengthens the behavior it follows.

Shaping Behavior

• Definition: A process where reinforcers guide behavior towards closer approximations of the desired behavior.

• Practical Application: Example of training for a 5K race, rewarding successive improvements.

Types of Reinforcers

• Positive Reinforcement: Adding a pleasurable stimulus to increase behavior (e.g., praise, payment).

• Negative Reinforcement: Removing an aversive stimulus to increase behavior (e.g., taking painkillers).

Important Examples

• Erlinda's nagging as positive reinforcement results in a trip to the mall.

• Her mom’s compliance to nagging shows negative reinforcement by removing the unpleasant situation.

Operant Conditioning Examples

Reinforcement Coincidence

• Positive and negative reinforcements can occur simultaneously, like students studying harder to avoid poor grades.

• Reinforcement is any consequence that strengthens behavior, either by reducing negatives or adding positives.

Primary vs. Conditioned Reinforcers

• Primary Reinforcer: Innately satisfying stimulus (e.g., food).

• Conditioned Reinforcer: Gains reinforcement value through association (e.g., money).

Immediate vs. Delayed Reinforcers

• Immediate Reinforcer: Occurs right after a behavior (high effectiveness in learning).

• Delayed Reinforcer: Slight delay (e.g., weekly paycheck) still influences future actions but requires more self-control.

Schedules of Reinforcement

• Continuous Reinforcement: Rewarding behavior every time it occurs.

• Partial (Intermittent) Reinforcement: Rewarding only part of the time; leads to slower learning but enhances resistance to extinction.

Types of Schedules

• Fixed-Ratio Schedule: Reward after a set number of responses (e.g., free drink after 10 purchases).

• Variable-Ratio Schedule: Reward after an unpredictable number of responses (e.g., slot machine winnings).

• Fixed-Interval Schedule: Reward after a specified time (e.g., paycheck every two weeks).

• Variable-Interval Schedule: Reward after unpredictable time intervals (e.g., checking email).

Effects of Punishment

• Punishment decreases behavior while reinforcement increases it.

• Positive Punishment: Adds an aversive stimulus (e.g., traffic ticket).

• Negative Punishment: Removes a rewarding stimulus (e.g., revoking driving privileges).

Punishment Issues

• Punished behavior may be suppressed but not forgotten.

• Physical punishment does not teach what to do instead of what not to do.

• Can create fear or teach discrimination between situations.

Effective Parenting Strategies

• Time-outs can be effective by removing access to positive stimuli while clarifying what behavior is expected.

• Positive framing of expectations for desired behaviors versus threats of punishment.

Applications of Operant Conditioning

• In educational settings, using immediate feedback in adaptive quizzing enhances learning.

• In athletics, rewarding small successes can efficiently shape behavior.

• In parenting, reinforcing positive behaviors encourages a better parent-child relationship.

• Personal behavior change can be achieved through setting specific measurable goals and incremental reinforcement.

Comparison of Classical vs. Operant Conditioning

Revision Questions

• Shaping Behavior: Reward behaviors in steps towards a desired outcome.

• Positive vs. Negative Reinforcement: Understand the difference between presenting and removing stimuli.

• Partial Reinforcement Schedules: Differentiate types based on fixed or variable intervals and ratios.