Transcript Module 16

Module 16
Operant Conditioning
Chapter 5, Pages 187-200
Essentials of Understanding Psychology- Sixth Edition
PSY110 Psychology
© Richard Goldman
October 19, 2006
Operant Conditioning
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Learned Response - learned by
associating rewards or punishments with
a activity
Thorndike's Law of Effect
(Connectionism)
Edward Lee Thorndike
8/31/ 1874 – 8/9/1949)
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Responses that lead to satisfying
consequences are more likely to be repeated.
Reinforcers
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Reinforcer – Stimulus that increases the
likelihood of a particular behavior
Primary Reinforcer – Satisfies biological need
(food, etc.)
Secondary Reinforcer – Associated with primary
reinforcer (money, etc.)
Negative Reinforcer – Removal of a positive
reinforcer, primary or secondary, (time-out,
grounding, etc.)
Punishment
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Stimulus decrease the likelihood of a
behavior – (spanking, jail, fines, etc.)
Produces:
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To be effective:
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Avoidance activity
Resentment
Must be immediate
Must be severe enough to discourage behavior
Least effective method of learning
Reinforcement Schedules
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Fixed-ratio – Rewards given at a fixed rate per
performance
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Variable-ratio – Rewards given at an unknown rate
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Slot machine
Very effective
Fixed-interval – Rewards given at fixed time
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Hourly employee’s paycheck
Requires strict adherence to reward schedule
Salaried employee’s paycheck
Least effective
Variable-interval – Reward given at a unknown time
intervals
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Pop quizzes
More effective
Shaping Behavior
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Teaching a complex behavior by rewarding
closer and closer approximation of the desired
behavior. (Successive approximations)
Behavior Modification
Formal procedure to increase or decrease
a behavior:
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6.
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Identify target behavior
Design data recording system
Establish baseline
Start program (Reinforcing Behavior)
Record Data
Evaluate Data
Informal behavior modification is normal
part of how we normally interact with others.