Module 5

Module 5

Positive Reinforcement:

  • When a type of behavior is followed by reinforcement, there will be an increased future frequency of that type of behavior

Reinforcement= R+

Three qualifications under which reinforcement will occur:

  1. The timing between the end of given response and the onset of the stimulus change
  2. The role of motivation
  3. The relationship between stimulus conditions present when the response was emitted

Positive Reinforcement 4 term contingency:

  1. Establishing operation → Discriminative Stimulus → Response → Reinforcing Stimulus (positive)

Reinforcers by Origin:

Conditioned Reinforcers:

  • Neutral stimuli that begin to function as reinforcers as a result of being paired with other reinforcers

Verbal Analog Conditioning:

  • Being “told” something is of value (like getting a star in class, to some people its just a star, but to the class, its a good thing)

Unconditioned Reinforcers (unlearned reinforcers)

  • Function as reinforcer due to heredity
  • Do not require any learning history to become reinforcers

Automatic Reinforcement

  • Reinforcement occurring independent of another person delivering it

Formal properties of reinforcers

  • Edible: food
  • Sensory: tickles
  • Tangible: Trinkets, toys
  • Activity: playing a game
  • Social: physical proximity, social

Generalized Conditioned Reinforcers

  • Conditioned reinforcer that has been paired with MANY conditioned and unconditioned reinforcers
  • Do not depend on a specific EO to be effective
  • Examples: tokens, money, points

Negative Reinforcement

Four term contingency

  1. Establishing operation → Discriminative Stimulus → Response → Reinforcing Stimulus (negative)

Unconditioned Negative Reinforcers:

  • Stimulus whose removal strengthens behavior in the absence of prior learning

Conditioned Negative Reinforcers:

  • Previously neutral events that acquire their effects through pairing with an existing negative reinforcer

Reinforcers can be assessed for a specific response

Reinforcer assessments and preference assessments are DIFFERENT

Guidelines for applying positive reinforcement effectively

  1. Set an easily achieved initial criterion for reinforcement
  2. Use high-quality reinforcers of sufficient magnitude
  3. Use varied reinforcers to maintain potent establishing operations
  4. Use direct rather than indirect reinforcement contingencies when possible
  5. Combine response prompts and reinforcement
  6. Initially reinforce each occurrence of the behavior initially
  7. Provide contingent attention and descriptive praise
  8. Gradually increase the response-to-reinforcement delay
  9. Gradually shift from contrived to naturally occurring reinforcers

Premack Principle:

Escape Contingency

4 terms

  1. Establishing Operation :
  2. Discriminative Stimulus (SD)
  3. A response
  4. The reinforcer (termination of the aversive)

Avoidance

  • Postponement and prevention of stimulus presentation

Negative reinforcement involves an escape contingency

  • A response terminates an ongoing stimulus

Behavior maintained by negative reinforcement is characterized by an avoidance contingency

  • A response prevents or postpones the presentation of a stimulus

Establishing operation (EO)

  • Increases the effectiveness of a stimulus as a reinforcer
  • Usually involves decreased access to the stimulus (deprivation)

Abolishing Operation (AO)

  • Decreases the effectiveness of a stimulus as a reinforcer
  • Usually involves having increased access to the stimulus (satiation)

Motivating operations

Value-Altering effect Behavior- Altering Effect

Reinforcer- Reinforcer- Evocative Effect Abative Effect

Establishing abolishing

effect effect

Reinforcer-establishing effect: an increase in the current effectiveness of some stimulus, object, or event as a reinforcer

Reinforcer-abolishing effect: A decrease in the current effectiveness of some stimulus, object, or event as a reinforcer

Evocative Effect: An increase in the current frequency of all behavior that has been reinforced by that stimulus, object, or event

Abative Effect: An decrease in the current frequency of all behavior that has been reinforced by that stimulus, object, or event

EO: (running 10 miles)

  • Value-altering effect: Establishes water as an effective reinforcer
  • Behavior-altering effect: evokes behaviors maintained by access to water

AO: (drinking water)

  • Value-altering effect: Abolishes water as an effective reinforcer
  • Behavior-altering effect: Abates behaviors maintained by access to water

MO

  • Determines value/effectiveness of the R+ (positive reinforcement)
  • Alters how LIKELY you are to response to the SD

SD (Discriminative stimulus)

  • Signals the availability of reinforcers
  • “Triggers” a particular behavior

Preference Assessments: stimulus preference assessments identify highly-preferred stimuli

Different types of stimuli preference assessments include: Ask, Free operant, and Trial based

Contrived Free Operant:

  • Think “Contrived”- we change something

Naturalistic Free Operant

  • Think “natural”- we keep the environment the same

Single stimulus

  • Involves presenting stimuli individually

Paired Stimulus

  • 2 Items are placed equal distance in front of the person

Multiple Stimulus

  • Presenting multiple items in front of the person

Multiple stimulus w/o replacement

  • Not replacing the item the person chose