Transcript 281 Lecture 7

Operant Conditioning
Categories of Positive Reinforcers
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Tangible
Social
Activity
Token Reinforcers
Tangible Reinforcers
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You can touch them
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CDs
Guitars
Social Reinforcers
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Types
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Applause
Laughter
Nods
Smiles
Activity Reinforcers
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Premack Principle
High Probability Behavior
Low Probability Behavior
Token Reinforcers
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are secondary
reinforcers
tokens are exchanged
for other reinforcers
Examples
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money
frequent flyer miles
ESSO gas points
Reinforcement
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Different Stokes for Different Folks
How do we know when something will be
reinforcing?
(a) watch them
(b) by asking them
(c) complete a Reinforcement Survey
Schedule
Reinforcer Sampling
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a procedure were clients are given a
generalized reinforcer without having to
behavior to earn it
after they are hooked on the reinforcer,
then they will be required to behave to
obtain the reinforcer
Administering Reinforcers
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can be done in three ways
1) by other people
2) by the person
3) as a natural consequence
Making Positive Reinforcement Effective
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1) deprivation
making a reinforcer scarce can
make it more valuable
satiation can be viewed as the
opposite deprivation
Making Positive Reinforcement Effective
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2) Instructions
instructing someone (whose
behavior is to be reinforced)
what is involved in obtaining
reinforcement
Making Positive Reinforcement Effective
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3) Amount of Reinforcer
the greater the amount of
reinforcement, the more
effective it will be
Making Positive Reinforcement Effective
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4) Reinforcer Variety
the more varied and diverse the
reinforcers, the more effective
it will be
Making Positive Reinforcement Effective
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5) Reinforcer Contrast Effects
involves the history of
reinforcement an individual has
experienced
negative and positive contrast
Crespi effects
Making Positive Reinforcement Effective
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6) Reinforcement Delay
immediate reinforcers are more
effective than delayed
reinforcers
Guidelines for the effective application
of Positive Reinforcement
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1. Select the behavior to be increased
be specific
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2. Select a reinforcer
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3. Apply Positive Reinforcement
use lots of praise and physical contact, but vary the
types of reinforcers
4. Wean the individual from the Program
switch to an intermittent schedule of reinforcement
change from tangible to social reinforcers
Autism
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Autism
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approx. 1 in 2500 births
organically based disorder
not due to inadequate parenting
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coined by Kanner in 1943
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Autism
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1) Deficits in Social Behaviour
little attachment, eye contact
prefer to be alone, do not interact
with peers
2) Language deficits
50 % do not develop functional
speech
echolalia (repeats speaker instead
of answering speaker)
3) Ritualistic Behaviour
same environment, line up objects,
unusual fixations
carry certain items with them
Autism
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4) Sensory Deficits
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5) Self injurious behaviour
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6) Self Stimulation
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inflicts physical damage to self
head banging, self biting of
hands and wrists
body rocking, spinning in circles,
darting movements
rocking foot to foot, doesn’t play
with toys in a normal way
7) Inappropriate Affect
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flattened, excessive or
inappropriate expression
Autism – Associated Features
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50% IQs LT 70
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Savants
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have exceptional ability in one area
“Autistic Savant”
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have extraordinary
skills not exhibited by
most persons.
“idiot savants” (French
for unlearned skill)
Epidemiology
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10% prevalence in autism
1% prevalence in non-autistic individuals
Areas of Ability
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Numbers
Dates
Art
Music
Modifying Autism
with
Positive Reinforcement
Lovaas Film
Autism Questions
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1) How were Lisa’s tantrums modified?
2) What happened to Pam and Ricky?
3) What were the strengths of the
behavioral approach to treating autism?
4) What were the weaknesses of the
behavioral approach to treating autism?
Video Highlights
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1) How were Lisa’s tantrums modified?
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Tantrums ignored
Extinction bursts
Positive reinforcers?
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Kissing, food, and verbal praise.
Video Highlights
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2) What happened to Pam and Ricky?
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initially taught parts of speech, then were transferred to a state
hospital in which the staff were untrained to continue teaching
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Pam and Ricky lost most of their communication skills.
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Pam remained at state hospital, only able to attend to simple
household tasks.
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Ricky lived in a small teaching home, lost most of his language skills
(and spontaneity), but developed some recreational skills (rug hooking)
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Design: ABA Design: treatment promoted positive behaviour, but in the
absence of training, these behaviours were lost
Video Highlights
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3) Strengths of Intervention
Increase in language skills
Decrease in self injurious behaviour
More treatment yield more
improvement
Video Highlights
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4) Weaknesses of Intervention
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1. Limited gains
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2. Tended to regress when treatment
was removed