Associative Learning

Associative Learning Operant Conditioning

Foundations • Edward Thorndike (1874-1949) • Puzzle Box • Cats became more efficient with each trial • Law of effect • Rewarded behavior is likely to recur

B.F. Skinner (1904-1990) • Started with Thorndike’s Law of Effect • Operant Chamber (Skinner Box) • Utilized food as reinforcer for a variety of behaviors • Resulted in animal learning

Operant Conditioning • Association of behaviors and their consequences • Behavior is strengthened (repeated) if followed by reinforcement or diminished if followed by punishment • Operant because the behavior operates on the environment to produce a consequence.

Shaping • Procedure in which rewards such as food gradually guide an animal’s behavior toward a desired behavior • Reinforcement given for successive approximations of desired behavior • Baby steps toward desired behavior

Principles of Reinforcement • Reinforcer: any event that strengthens the behavior that it follows. • Positive (pleasant given: food) • Negative (aversive taken away: turning off alarm) • Primary (Innate: satisfies biological need) • Secondary (Learned: money, good grades, pleasant tone of voice, all linked with primary)

Focus on Positive Reinforcement • Examples:

Focus on Negative Reinforcement • Examples:

Reinforcement Schedules • Continuous • Reinforcing the desired response (behavior) whenever it occurs • Learning occurs rapidly • Extinction also rapid once reinforcement stops

Reinforcement Schedules • Partial • Reinforcing response only part of the time • Slower acquisition of learning • Greater resistance to extinction

Fixed Ratio • Reinforce behavior after a set number of responses • High rate of responding • Example: Paid $10 for every 100 envelopes stuffed

Variable Ratio • Reinforcement occurs after an unpredictable number of responses • High rates of responding • Resists extinction • Example: gambling, giving in to child’s whining in grocery store every so often, sales commissions

Fixed Interval • Reinforce the first response after a fixed time period has occurred. • Rapid rate of responding as anticipated time of reward approaches • Choppy pattern of responding • Example: checking the cookies as the baking time is nearly done, checking for the mail as the time approaches for the delivery to occur

Variable Interval • Reinforce the first response after varying time intervals • Slow steady responding • Example: Boss walks around on a varying schedule to check on employees progress.

Superstitious behavior • How does it happen?

Punishment • Decreases behavior that it follows • Not forgotten, just suppressed • May increase aggressiveness • “positive” applying an aversive consequence • “negative” withdrawing a pleasant consequence.

Handouts

Operant Conditioning Updates and applications

Problems with Punishment • Human studies re: physical… • Temporary suppression negatively reinforces parental punishing behavior • May learn discrimination (do it when you won’t get caught) • Increased aggressiveness • Develop fear • Doesn’t guide

What to do? • Reinforcement of desired behaviors best • Reframe contingencies from threats to positive incentives

Cognition • Cognitive Map – mental representation of one’s environment • Latent Learning – learning that occurs without reinforcement or punishment

Cognition & Motivation • Overjustification effect

Intrinsic and Extrinsic motivation • Excessive rewards undermine intrinsic motivation • Rewards administered as feedback or information about performance can increase performance • Examples

Biological Predispositions • Organisms learn associations that are naturally adaptive.

Behavioral Modification • State your goal in measurable terms • Monitor behavior • Reinforce desired behavior • Reduce the incentives gradually, exchanging for mental rewards

Applications • Discuss: How can your knowledge of operant conditioning be used to enhance • Education/teaching • Parenting • Work performance Identify an example for each area

Associative Learning