Unit 6 (C):Unit 6 (C):Operant Operant

ConditioningConditioning

Mr. McCormickMr. McCormickA.P. PsychologyA.P. Psychology

Do-Now:Do-Now:(Discussion)(Discussion)

Describe Describe the following phenomena of the following phenomena of Classical ConditioningClassical Conditioning::

GeneralizationGeneralization DiscriminationDiscrimination ExtinctionExtinction Spontaneous RecoverySpontaneous Recovery Learned HelplessnessLearned Helplessness

What is What is Operant Conditioning Operant Conditioning and and how does it how does it differdiffer from from Classical Classical ConditioningConditioning??

Classical Vs. Operant Classical Vs. Operant ConditioningConditioning

Classical Classical Conditioning Conditioning forms forms associations associations between between stimuli stimuli (CS and US)(CS and US) Respondent BehaviorRespondent Behavior

Operant conditioningOperant conditioning forms an forms an associationassociation between between behaviorsbehaviors and and the the resulting eventsresulting events.. Operant BehaviorOperant Behavior

Operant ConditioningOperant Conditioning

Operant Conditioning:Operant Conditioning: A type of learning in which behavior is A type of learning in which behavior is

strengthened if followed by a reinforcer strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished by a punisheror diminished by a punisher

Skinner’s ExperimentsSkinner’s Experiments

B.F. Skinner’s experiments extend B.F. Skinner’s experiments extend Edward Thorndike’s Edward Thorndike’s thinking, thinking, especially his especially his law of effectlaw of effect. This law. This law states that rewarded behavior is states that rewarded behavior is likely to occur again.likely to occur again.

Operant ChamberOperant Chamber

Using Thorndike's Using Thorndike's law of effect law of effect as a as a starting point, Skinner developed starting point, Skinner developed the the operant chamberoperant chamber, or the , or the “Skinner Box,” “Skinner Box,” to study operant to study operant conditioning.conditioning.

Operant ChamberOperant Chamber

The The Operant ChamberOperant Chamber, , or or “Skinner Box,” “Skinner Box,” comes comes with a bar or key that an with a bar or key that an animal manipulates to animal manipulates to obtain a reinforcer like obtain a reinforcer like food or water. food or water.

The bar or key is The bar or key is connected to devices that connected to devices that record the animal’s record the animal’s response.response.

ShapingShaping

ShapingShaping is the operant conditioning is the operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior towards the desired target behavior towards the desired target behavior through successive behavior through successive approximations.approximations.

A rat shaped to sniff mines. A manatee shaped to discriminate objects of different

shapes, colors and sizes.

Types of ReinforcersTypes of Reinforcers

Reinforcer:Reinforcer: Any event that strengthens Any event that strengthens (reinforces) (reinforces)

the behavior it followsthe behavior it follows A reinforcement is a A reinforcement is a rewardreward

Types of ReinforcersTypes of Reinforcers

Types of ReinforcersTypes of Reinforcers

Primary Reinforcer:Primary Reinforcer: An innately reinforcing stimulusAn innately reinforcing stimulus Often satisfies a biological needOften satisfies a biological need E.g. PizzaE.g. Pizza

Secondary/Conditioned Reinforcer:Secondary/Conditioned Reinforcer: A stimulus that gains its reinforcing A stimulus that gains its reinforcing

power through its association with a power through its association with a primary reinforcerprimary reinforcer

E.g. MoneyE.g. Money

Types of ReinforcersTypes of Reinforcers

If a If a teacherteacher wanted to reinforce wanted to reinforce studentsstudents arriving to class arriving to class on timeon time, , how could he or she employ the how could he or she employ the following types of following types of reinforcersreinforcers::

Positive/PrimaryPositive/Primary Positive/SecondaryPositive/Secondary Negative/PrimaryNegative/Primary Negative/SecondaryNegative/Secondary

Schedules of Schedules of ReinforcementReinforcement

Terms to consider:Terms to consider: Fixed:Fixed:

Set/Pre-determinedSet/Pre-determined Variable:Variable:

Changeable/UnpredictableChangeable/Unpredictable Ratio:Ratio:

Number of timesNumber of times Interval:Interval:

Amount of time intervalsAmount of time intervals

Schedules of Schedules of ReinforcementReinforcement

Fixed-Ratio:Fixed-Ratio: Reinforces a response only after a Reinforces a response only after a

specified number specified number of of responsesresponses E.g. Buy 10 coffees, get one freeE.g. Buy 10 coffees, get one free

Variable-Ratio:Variable-Ratio: Reinforces response after an Reinforces response after an

unpredictable number unpredictable number of of responsesresponses E.g. Slot machinesE.g. Slot machines

Schedules of Schedules of ReinforcementReinforcement

Fixed-Interval:Fixed-Interval: Reinforces a response only after a Reinforces a response only after a

specified time has elapsedspecified time has elapsed E.g. Weekly pay checksE.g. Weekly pay checks

Variable-Interval:Variable-Interval: Reinforces a response at unpredictable Reinforces a response at unpredictable

time intervalstime intervals E.g. Pop quizzesE.g. Pop quizzes

Schedules of Schedules of ReinforcementReinforcement

Provide an Provide an exampleexample of each of the of each of the following following schedules of reinforcementschedules of reinforcement:: Fixed-RatioFixed-Ratio Variable-RatioVariable-Ratio Fixed-IntervalFixed-Interval Variable-IntervalVariable-Interval

Which one do you think is Which one do you think is least effectiveleast effective?? Which one do you think is Which one do you think is most effectivemost effective?? Which one do you think is Which one do you think is most addictivemost addictive??

Schedules of Schedules of ReinforcementReinforcement

PunishmentPunishment

PunishmentPunishment

Do you feel that Do you feel that punishmentpunishment is is effectiveeffective, and under what , and under what types of types of circumstancescircumstances??

If not, what other If not, what other alternativesalternatives do you do you supportsupport??

PunishmentPunishment

Effects of Punishment on Behavior:Effects of Punishment on Behavior: Punished behavior is Punished behavior is suppressedsuppressed, not forgotten, not forgotten Punishment does Punishment does notnot teach teach appropriate appropriate

behaviorbehavior Punishment causes Punishment causes unwanted behaviors unwanted behaviors to to

reappearreappear in its absence in its absence Punishment can teach Punishment can teach fearfear Justifies Justifies painpain to others to others Physical punishment may Physical punishment may increaseincrease

aggressivenessaggressiveness by modeling aggression as a by modeling aggression as a way to cope with problemsway to cope with problems

ReviewReview What is What is Operant ConditioningOperant Conditioning?? DescribeDescribe the following the following types of reinforcementtypes of reinforcement::

PositivePositive NegativeNegative PrimaryPrimary Secondary (Conditioned)Secondary (Conditioned)

DescribeDescribe the following the following schedules of reinforcementschedules of reinforcement:: Fixed-RatioFixed-Ratio Variable-RatioVariable-Ratio Fixed-IntervalFixed-Interval Variable-IntervalVariable-Interval

What are some ways that What are some ways that punishmentpunishment affects affects behaviorbehavior??

HomeworkHomework

Research Study # 10: Research Study # 10: “Little Emotional “Little Emotional Albert” (Pgs. 72-78)Albert” (Pgs. 72-78)

Unit 6 Quiz: Unit 6 Quiz: “Learning”“Learning”

Unit 6 FRQUnit 6 FRQ

Unit 6 Test: Unit 6 Test: “Learning”“Learning”

Chapter 8 Outline: Chapter 8 Outline: “Memory”“Memory”