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

Learn about the key principles of operant conditioning, including positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement, with examples and explanations.