Reinforcement and Its Roles

Reinforcement in Creativity

• Definition of Creativity: Creativity refers to the ability to produce original ideas or works that have value.
• Role of Reinforcement in Creativity:
  • Creativity can be influenced by reinforcement history.
  • Evidence indicates that reinforcement can both stifle and promote creativity.
• Examples:
  • Positive Reinforcement: Karen Pryor effectively trained dolphins and pigeons to display novel behaviors through reinforcement.
  • Children's Artwork: When children were promised rewards for creating art, their efforts were less creative compared to those who were not promised rewards.
• Distinction Between Promised and Received Rewards: The promise of a reward alters the motivational state differently than providing a reward post-creation.

Studies on Creativity and Reinforcement

• Teresa Amabile's Research: Conducted experiments suggesting that rewards reduce creativity; important to note that rewards in her studies were not contingent on novelty.
• Misconceptions: Some educators discourage praising creative efforts because they fear it will suppress creativity; however, evidence does not fully support this claim.

Superstitious Behavior

• Definition: Superstitious behavior is defined as actions that are repeated despite not leading to the expected reinforcement.
• Skinner's Interpretation:
  • Coincidental reinforcement occurs when behavior is accidentally paired with a reinforcer, leading to habitual performance of that behavior.
• Evidence of Superstitious Behavior in Humans:
  • Preschool children engage in superstitious behavior when interacting with mechanical toys.
  • Students engaging in point-based systems exhibited superstitious actions.
• Complexity of Superstitions: Skinner's explanation may not fully account for the complexities of superstitious behaviors in humans, but it may contribute to maintaining them.

Learned Helplessness

• Definition: Learned helplessness involves giving up on tasks after encountering unsolvable problems.
• Learned Industriousness: This refers to the tendency to persist in difficult problem-solving after reinforcement of persistence.
• Seligman's Experiment:
  • In studies with dogs, dogs that were previously exposed to inescapable shocks did not attempt to escape future shocks, demonstrating learned helplessness.
  • The study highlighted the importance of perceived control over outcomes.
• Implications of Learned Helplessness:
  • The belief that efforts are futile contributes to feelings of helplessness rather than being the root cause.
• Prevention of Helplessness: Positive experiences in escaping challenges can foster persistence.
  • Dogs that had prior escape experiences showed resilience against subsequent shocks, and this can be applicable in various learning situations.