6_Behaviorism_OperantConditioning.pdf

OPERANT CONDITIONING OPERANT CONDITIONING The kind of learning that applies to voluntary behavior is called operant conditioning.  Frustrating Cats: Thorndike’s Puzzle Box and the Law of Effect Thorndike placed a hungry cat inside a “puzzle box” from which th...

OPERANT CONDITIONING OPERANT CONDITIONING The kind of learning that applies to voluntary behavior is called operant conditioning.  Frustrating Cats: Thorndike’s Puzzle Box and the Law of Effect Thorndike placed a hungry cat inside a “puzzle box” from which the only escape was to press a lever located on the floor of the box. Thorndike placed a dish of food outside the box, so the hungry cat is highly motivated to get out. Thorndike observed that the cat would move around the box, pushing and rubbing up against the walls in an effort to escape. Eventually, the cat would accidentally push the lever, opening the door. Upon escaping, the cat was fed from a dish placed just outside the box.3 Based on this research, Thorndike developed the LAW OF EFFECT: “Ifan action is followed by a pleasurable consequence, it will tend to be repeated. If an action is followed by an unpleasant consequence, it will tend not to be repeated.” B.F Skinner Skinner found in the work of Thorndike a way to explain all behavior as the product of learning. He even gave the learning of voluntary behavior a special name: operant. conditioning. Voluntary behavior is what people and animals do to operate in the world. When people perform a voluntary action, it is to get something they want or to avoid something they don’t want, right? So voluntary behavior, for Skinner, is operant behavior, and the learning of such behavior is operant conditioning. 5  The heart of operant conditioning is the effect of consequences on behavior. THE SKINNER BOX Skinner studied operant conditioning by conducting experiments using animals which he placed in a 'Skinner Box' which was similar to Thorndike’s puzzle box. 7 IMPORTANT CONCEPTS OF OPERANT CONDITIONING REINFORCEMENT The word itself means “to strengthen,” and Skinner defined “What’s in reinforcement as anything that, when it for me?” following a response, causes that response to be more likely to happen again. 9 REINFORCEMENT: PRIMARY & SECONDARY PRIMARY SECONDARY REINFORCERS REINFORCERS any reinforcer that is naturally any reinforcer that becomes reinforcing by meeting a basic reinforcing after being paired biological need, such as with a primary reinforcer, such hunger, thirst, or touch. as praise, tokens, or gold 10 stars. the reinforcement of a response by the addition or experience of a POSITIVE pleasurable consequence, such as a reward REINFORCEMENT the removal or escape from NEGATIVE something unpleasant will also REINFORCEMENT increase the likelihood of that response being repeated POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT 11  CONTINUOUS a response that is REINFORCEMENT reinforced after some, the reinforcement but not all, correct of each and every responses correct response. PARTIAL REINFORCEMENT 12  Alicia’s mother agrees to give her a quarter every night she remembers to put her dirty clothes in the clothes hamper. Bianca’s mother agrees to give her a dollar at the end of the week, but only if she has put her clothes in the hamper every night. Alicia learns to put her clothes in the hamper more quickly than does Bianca because responses that are reinforced each time they occur are more easily and quickly learned. After a time, the mothers stop giving the girls the money. Which child is more likely to stop putting her clothes in the hamper? SCHEDULES OF REINFORCEMENT FIXED FIXED RATIO INTERVAL VARIABLE INTERVAL VARIABLE RATIO INTERVAL SCHEDULE- the timing of the response is more important RATIO SCHEDULE- the number of responses is more important 14  the interval of time that must pass before FIXED INTERVAL reinforcement becomes possible is always the same. the interval of time that must pass before VARIABLE INTERVAL reinforcement becomes possible is different for each trial or event. the number of responses required FIXED RATIO for reinforcement is always the same. the number of responses VARIABLE RATIO required for reinforcement is different for each trial or event. 15  th th Getting a salary every 15 and 30 of the month (FI) Waiting for a jeepney ( VI) For every 3 correct answers, you get a bonus point (FR) Playing on a slot machine (VR) FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF REINFORCEMENT TIMING REINFORCE In general, a reinforcer should be given as immediately as possible ONLY THE after the desired behavior. Delaying DESIRED reinforcement tends not to work well, especially when dealing with BEHAVIOR animals and small children. 17 PUNISHMENT It is any event or stimulus that, when following a response, causes that response to be less likely to happen again. Punishment weakens responses, whereas reinforcement (no matter whether it is positive or negative) strengthens responses. 18 KINDS OF PUNISHMENT NEGATIVE PUNISHMENT occurs when something (punishment by removal) unpleasant (such as a In this type of punishment, spanking, scolding, or other behavior is punished by the unpleasant stimulus) is added removal of something to the situation or applied. pleasurable or desired after POSITIVE PUNISHMENT the behavior occurs. (punishment by application) 19 HOW TO MAKE PUNISHMENT MORE EFFECTIVE? Punishment should immediately follow the behavior it is meant to punish. Punishment of the wrong behavior should be paired, whenever possible, with reinforcement of the right behavior. Punishment should be consistent. 21  OTHER CONCEPTS IN OPERANT CONDITIONING SHAPING The small steps toward some ultimate goal are reinforced until the goal itself is reached. The goal is achieved by reinforcing each successive approximation (small steps one after the other that get closer and closer to the goal). 23 INSTINCTIVE DRIFT The tendency for an animal’s behavior to revert to genetically controlled patterns. 24 BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION USING OPERANT CONDITIONING TOKEN ECONOMY Using of tokens, secondary reinforcers, that can be traded in for other kinds of reinforcers. 26