Operant Conditioning: Positive and Negative Reinforcement

Operant Conditioning

Positive Reinforcement

• A stimulus is added to the environment to increase the frequency of a behavior
• The stimulus is pleasing or satisfying to the individual
• Example: A child cleans their room, and as a result, they receive a sticker or praise

Negative Reinforcement

• A stimulus is removed from the environment to increase the frequency of a behavior
• The stimulus is unpleasant or aversive to the individual
• Example: A person puts on their seatbelt to avoid the annoying beeping sound in their car

Punishment

• A stimulus is added to the environment to decrease the frequency of a behavior
• The stimulus is unpleasant or aversive to the individual
• Example: A child touches a hot stove and receives a burn, resulting in a decrease in the behavior of touching the stove

Extinction

• A stimulus that was previously reinforcing is removed from the environment
• The goal is to decrease the frequency of a behavior
• Example: A child throws a tantrum to get attention, but the parent ignores them, resulting in a decrease in the tantrum behavior

Schedules of Reinforcement

• Fixed Ratio Schedule: Reinforcement is given after a fixed number of responses
• Variable Ratio Schedule: Reinforcement is given after an unpredictable number of responses
• Fixed Interval Schedule: Reinforcement is given after a fixed amount of time
• Variable Interval Schedule: Reinforcement is given after an unpredictable amount of time

Shaping Behavior

• A process of gradually building a complex behavior by reinforcing successive approximations
• The goal is to teach a new behavior through gradual reinforcement
• Example: Teaching a dog to roll over by first reinforcing it for sitting, then for lying down, and finally for rolling over

Operant Conditioning

Types of Reinforcement

• Positive Reinforcement: A pleasing stimulus is added to increase behavior frequency, e.g., a child receives a sticker for cleaning their room
• Negative Reinforcement: An unpleasant stimulus is removed to increase behavior frequency, e.g., a person puts on their seatbelt to avoid the annoying beeping sound

Reducing Behavior

• Punishment: An unpleasant stimulus is added to decrease behavior frequency, e.g., a child receives a burn from touching a hot stove, resulting in decreased stove-touching behavior
• Extinction: A previously reinforcing stimulus is removed to decrease behavior frequency, e.g., a child's tantrum behavior decreases when their parent ignores them

Schedules of Reinforcement

• Fixed Ratio: Reinforcement after a fixed number of responses
• Variable Ratio: Reinforcement after an unpredictable number of responses
• Fixed Interval: Reinforcement after a fixed amount of time
• Variable Interval: Reinforcement after an unpredictable amount of time

Shaping Behavior

• A process of gradually building a complex behavior by reinforcing successive approximations
• Goal is to teach a new behavior through gradual reinforcement, e.g., teaching a dog to roll over by reinforcing sitting, lying down, and finally rolling over