Operant Conditioning

Operant Conditioning Chapter 9 Section 2

Objectives • Describe and apply components of operant conditioning. • Identify B.F. Skinner. • Analyze uses and effectiveness of reinforcement and punishment. • Describe reinforcement schedules.

Warm Up • What is learning? • Relatively permanent change in behavior that results from experience.

Review of Prior Learning • You always talk to your (boy/girl) friend while sitting in your beanbag chair. After an ugly breakup, you find that even looking at the chair upsets you, so you give it to Goodwill. • Identify the NS-UCS-UCR-CS-CR • What would be occurring if you couldn’t sit in any chair while talking on the phone? • What if you only refused to sit in beanbag chairs? • What if you go away to college and your roommate has a chair that makes you chuckle as you sit in it and think about the story? • And this can only occur after it’s gone away which is called?

Classical Environment provides the stimulus and the subject responds. Operant Environment responds to the subject’s behavior (stimulus). Classical vs. Operant Conditioning

Edward Thorndike • Thorndike’s Law of Effect • Rewarded behavior likely to recur

B.F. Skinner • Behavior influenced by history of its consequences

Skinner Box

Shaping • Reward behaviors close to the behavior he was looking for until animal performed desired behavior.

Reward A.k.a. Positive Reinforcement Actions taken that result in  consequences Behavior more likely to occur again Punishment Actions taken that result in  consequences Behavior less likely to occur again Operant Conditioning

Negative Reinforcement Actions taken to avoid punishments Behavior more likely to occur again Omission Training Actions taken which result in something  being taken away Behavior less likely to occur again Operant Conditioning

Operant Conditioning Chart Pleasant Aversive + _

Activity • Introduction to Operant Conditioning “problems” • When you’ve worked your way through the problem, identify which principle of operant conditioning is at work. ( +R, -R, OT, P)

What’s the difference between classical and operant conditioning? Classical-subject responds to environment Operant – environment responds to subject’s behavior. Day 2 Warm Up

Review • Which principle of operant conditioning… • Presents something unpleasant? • Takes something pleasant away? • Takes something unpleasant away? • Presents something pleasant?

Primary Reinforcer Value doesn’t need to be learned. Satisfies basic human need. Ex: Food, sleep Secondary Reinforcer Value has to be learned Without conditioning, it would have no +/- value Ex: $, Praise, Hug, Grades Types of Reinforcers

Continuous Reinforcement Reinforcement given every time desired behavior occurs Partial Reinforcement Reinforcement only given sometimes after desired behavior occurs. Providing Reinforcement

Online Activity • PsychSim 5.0 “Operant Conditioning” • http://www.worthpublishers.com/exploring5e/content/psychsim5/Operant%20Conditioning/PsychSim_Shell.html • This activity will review classical and operant conditioning and introduce you to schedules of reinforcement.

Ratio Schedule # of correct responses subject makes between reinforcement Interval Schedule Amt of time that passes before reinforcement given Rate of Reinforcement: Fixed If time or # of responses is constant Variable If time or # of responses is random 4 Schedules of Partial Reinforcement

Fixed-Ratio Reinforcement occurs after specific, unchanging # of responses. Variable-Ratio Reinforcement occurs after unpredictable # of responses. Fixed-Interval Reinforcement occurs after set amt of time Variable-Interval Reinforcement occurs at unpredictable time interval 4 Schedules of Partial Reinforcement

Activity • Schedules of Reinforcement

Activity • Operant Practice (Principles and Reinforcement Schedules)

Closure • What is the difference between operant and classical conditioning?

Operant Conditioning