Operant Conditioning Test

Operant Conditioning

• Operant conditioning is a learning type where the frequency of a behavior depends on its consequences.
• The consequences (events following the behavior) impact how often the behavior happens.
• Edward Thorndike developed the law of effect, which states behaviors with positive consequences occur more often, while those with negative consequences happen less.
• B.F. Skinner identified fundamental principles of operant conditioning, including reinforcement (increases behavior likelihood) and punishment (decreases behavior likelihood).

Reinforcement and Punishment

• Reinforcement: Any consequence strengthening a behavior in the future.
• Positive Reinforcement: Adding something desirable to increase a behavior (e.g., candy for good grades).
• Negative Reinforcement: Removing something undesirable to increase a behavior (e.g., taking medication for a headache ).
• Punishment: Any consequence that makes a behavior less likely.
• Positive Punishment: Introducing an unpleasant stimulus after a behavior (e.g., a scolding for misbehavior).
• Negative Punishment: Removing something desirable after a behavior (e.g., losing privileges).

Skinner Box

• The Skinner box is a device used to study operant conditioning.
• It includes a chamber, a lever, and a food dispenser (or other rewarding mechanism) to record and observe an animal's responses to the environmental stimuli.
• The box has features like a speaker, signal lights, a lever, food dispenser, and an electric grid.

Schedules of Reinforcement

• Reinforcement schedules determine when and how often reinforcement occurs.
• Continuous Reinforcement: Rewards every correct response (useful for establishing new behaviors, but behavior can easily end if reinforcement stops).
• Partial Reinforcement: Rewards some correct responses. It's more resistant to extinction than continuous reinforcement.
• Interval Schedules: Reinforcement is given after a certain amount of time regardless of the number of responses. (example: Fixed Interval- a quiz every Friday, Variable Interval-a pop quiz).
• Ratio Schedules: Reinforcement is given after a certain number of responses (example: Fixed Ratio - Buy 10 get 1 free promotions, Variable Ratio - slot machines.)
• Schedules of reinforcement can be visualized graphically showing how cumulative response rates change over time.

The Role of Cognition

• Latent learning: Learning that isn't immediately observable but becomes apparent later when there's motivation to show it. Example: Rats learning a maze without reward perform as well as those who were rewarded.
• Overjustification effect: Rewarding a behavior that was already enjoyable can decrease intrinsic motivation. Excessive rewards can diminish the inherent enjoyment of an activity.

Additional Important Concepts

• Shaping: Training new behaviors by reinforcing successive approximations of the desired behavior.
• Self-Control: The ability to regulate thoughts, emotions, and actions, a key to developing new habits.
• Problems with Punishment: Punishment may not eliminate the desire for the behavior; moreover, it could lead to fear, anxiety, or aggressive responses.