Transcript Operant Conditioning

Operant Conditioning
Operant Conditioning
• A type of learning in which behavior is
strengthened if followed by reinforcement
or diminished if followed by punishment.
Classical v. Operant
• They both use acquisition, discrimination,
SR, generalization and extinction.
•Classical Conditioning is automatic
(respondent behavior). Dogs automatically
salivate over meat, then bell- no thinking
involved.
•Operant Conditioning involves behavior
where one can influence their environment
with behaviors which have consequences
(operant behavior).
Is the organism learning associations
between events that it doesn’t control?
Classical Conditioning
Is the organism learning associations
between its behavior and resulting
events?
Operant Conditioning
Edward Thorndike
• Law of Effect:
rewarded
behavior is
likely to recur.
B.F. Skinner
Shaping
• A procedure in Operant Conditioning in
which reinforcers guide behavior closer
and closer towards a goal.
Operant Conditioning Chamber
Conditioning
Reinforcer
• Any event that STRENGTHENS the
behavior it follows.
Two Types of Reinforcement:
Positive and Negative
Positive Reinforcement
• Strengthens a response by presenting a
stimulus after a response.
Negative Reinforcement
• Strengthens a response by reducing or
removing an aversive stimulus.
Types of Reinforcers
Primary Reinforcer
• An innately reinforcing stimulus
Conditioned (Secondary)
Reinforcer
• A stimulus that gains it reinforcing
power through its association with a
primary reinforcer.
Immediate v. Delayed
Reinforcers
Reinforcement
Schedules
Continuous
Reinforcement
• Reinforcing the desired response every
time it occurs.
Quick Acquisition
Quick Extinction
Partial Reinforcement
• Reinforcing a
response only part
of the time.
• The acquisition
process is slower.
• Greater resistance
to extinction.
Fixed-ratio Schedules
• A schedule that reinforces a response only
after a specified number of responses.
Example: I give cookie monster a cookie
every FIVE times he sings “C is for cookie”.
Variable-ratio Schedule
• A schedule of
reinforcement that
reinforces a
response after an
unpredictable
number of
responses.
Example: I give Homer a donut at random
times when he says “DOH!!!”
Fixed-interval Schedule
• A schedule of
reinforcement
that reinforces a
response only
after a specified
time has elapsed.
Example: I give Bart a Butterfinger every ten
minutes after he moons someone.
Variable-interval Schedule
• A schedule of
reinforcement that
reinforces a
response at
unpredictable time
intervals.
Pop Quizzes
Punishment
• An event that
DECREASES the
behavior that it
follows.
Does punishment work?