Learning 302: 3/10/25

Positive Punishment

• Definition: Introduction of an unpleasant stimulus to decrease a behavior.

• Example: Spanking a child for misbehavior.

• Impact: Perception differs based on the individual; it may not be effective or suitable for everyone.

Negative Punishment

• Definition: Removal of a pleasant stimulus to decrease a behavior.

• Examples:

  • Taking away a child's recess time to discourage misbehavior.

  • Removing car keys or fob as a consequence for not following rules.

  • Grounding a child or taking away privileges (like video games or play dates).

• Effectiveness: Sometimes ineffective, particularly in children with conditions such as ADHD.

Reinforcement vs. Punishment

• Reinforcement: Aim is to increase the probability of a behavior.

• Punishment: Aim is to decrease the probability of a behavior.

• Key Questions:

  • What is the behavior?

  • Do we want to increase or decrease its probability?

  • Are we giving something (positive) or taking something away (negative)?

Primary vs. Secondary Reinforcers

• Primary Reinforcers: Naturally reinforcing, like food, water, and sex.

• Conditions Affecting Reinforcement:

  • Emotional or physical states (e.g., anorexia or full stomach) can affect the reinforcing properties of food.

• Secondary Reinforcers: Stimuli that acquire reinforcing properties through association with primary reinforcers (e.g., a clicker used in animal training).

  • Allows trainers to reinforce behaviors without immediately providing food.

Classical vs. Operant Conditioning

• Classical Conditioning: Association between two stimuli (e.g., bell and food).

• Operant Conditioning: Involves behavior and its consequences (response leads to outcome).

• Skinner's ABCs of Operant Conditioning:

  • Antecedent: Stimulus preceding behavior.

  • Behavior: Action taken by the organism.

  • Consequence: Outcome resulting from behavior.

Importance of Timing

• Immediate Reinforcement: Enhances learning; longer delays can diminish effectiveness.

• Learning Through Shaping: Successive approximations are reinforced to develop complex behaviors (e.g., training a bear to ride a bicycle).

Extinction in Operant Conditioning

• Definition: When reinforcement is withheld, the likelihood of the behavior decreases.

• Frustrated Non-reward: When previously reinforced behavior increases in frequency after reinforcement stops due to frustration.

Discriminative Stimuli in Training

• Definition: Stimuli that indicate when a particular behavior will be reinforced (e.g., lights in a Skinner box).

• Example: Different colored lights indicate which action leads to reinforcement.

Natural vs. Contrived Reinforcers

• Natural Reinforcers: Consequences that typically follow behaviors naturally (common outcomes).

• Contrived Reinforcers: Aimed at shaping behavior through artificially arranged consequences.

Conclusion

• Combining Reinforcers: Mixing intrinsic motivations with extrinsic rewards can impact behavior positively.

• Real-Life Application: Operant conditioning principles are applicable in behavioral therapies and behaviors management strategies.