Operant Conditioning

Operant: An observable behavior that an organism uses to navigate its environment.
Operant Conditioning: A learning process where the probability of a response is influenced by its consequences, specifically the stimuli that follow the response.

B.F. Skinner: A prominent figure in behaviorism known for his experiments with rats.
Law of Effect: Suggests that behaviors producing desirable outcomes are learned and reinforced.

A device used by Skinner to study operant conditioning, allowing for the observation of behaviors in response to reinforcements.

Reinforcer: A stimulus that follows a response and strengthens the likelihood of that response occurring again.

Presentation of a stimulus after a behavior that increases the likelihood of that behavior recurring.
Example: Receiving payment for high grades.
Explanation: Adding a reward (money) increases the chance of behavior (studying) repeating.

Removal of an aversive stimulus following a behavior that increases the likelihood of that behavior occurring again.
Example: Taking Advil to eliminate headache pain.
Explanation: Removing pain increases the likelihood of taking medication in the future.

Every correct response is reinforced, beneficial in the early learning stages and shaping new behaviors.

A technique that reinforces successive approximations towards a desired behavior.
Example: Training a parrot to say "Hello, Polly" by rewarding it for sounds closer to the target phrase.

Gradually rewarding the subject for behaviors increasingly closer to the target—eventually reinforcing the final desired action.

An aversive stimulus occurring after a behavior that reduces the likelihood of that behavior recurring.

Adding a negative consequence following an undesired behavior to decrease that behavior.
Example: A teacher assigning extra homework for lateness.

Removing a desirable stimulus after a behavior to decrease the likelihood of that behavior.
Example: Losing phone privileges for breaking a rule.

Clarifies the consequences of behaviors:
- Positive Reinforcement: Adds a stimulus (e.g., money).
- Negative Reinforcement: Removes an aversive stimulus (e.g., pain).
- Positive Punishment: Adds a negative consequence (e.g., extra homework).
- Negative Punishment: Removes a positive stimulus (e.g., phone).

Consistent administration of punishment is crucial for effectiveness; intermittent punishment may reinforce undesired behaviors.

Punishment aims to decrease behavior, while negative reinforcement seeks to increase behavior by removing unpleasant stimuli.

Rewards are given only for some correct responses, making it the most effective method to maintain learned behaviors.

Fixed Interval Schedule (FI): Reinforces the first correct response after a set time.
- Example: Getting paid every two weeks.
Variable Interval Schedule (VI): Reinforcement after an unpredictable amount of time.
- Example: Receiving pop quizzes.
Fixed Ratio Schedule (FR): Reinforces responses after a specific number of correct responses.
- Example: Loyalty cards giving free drinks after a set number purchased.
Variable Ratio Schedule (VR): Reinforces after an unpredictable number of responses.
- Example: Gambling with variable wins on a slot machine.