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Reinforcement Procedures (Behavior Therapy)
Definition
(a) A relatively permanent change in an organism’s behavior due to experience.
(b) Linking events that occur close together (i.e., associative learning).
1. Classical Conditioning: Learning associations of two stimuli, Pavlov, involuntary/automatic,
S first.
Example 1:
(a) Stimulus 1 (lightening) + Stimulus 2 (thunder)  Wincing Response
(b) Repeat the association of S1 and S2  Wincing Response
(c) S1 alone  Wincing response expecting a S2
Example 2:
(a) Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS: Food)  Unconditioned Response (UCR: salivation)
(b) Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS: Food) + Neutral Stimulus (NS: Bell)  Unconditioned
Response (UCR: salivation)
(c) Repeat the association between UCS and NS  Unconditioned Response (UCR: salivation)
(d) NS alone  UCR (salivation)
(e) CS (bell)  CR (salivation)
Other examples:
(a) FoodVomiting. Cook/Smell of the FoodVomiting.
(b) DentistPain/fear. Dental signspain/fear.
(c) Alcohol/drugpleasure, craving, pain, etc. Friends who do drink/abuse drugsCraving for
them.
(d) Many feared responses (i.e., rat, snake, bugs).
Terms need to know:
(a) Generalization: Tendency to show CR to Stimuli similar to CS (i.e., whistle, chime).
(b) Discrimination: The learned ability to distinguish between CS and other irrelevant stimuli.
(c) Extinction: After several Conditioned Responses, no more CR to CS without UCS.
That is, reduction of the probability of behavior by withholding that have customarily presented
(i.e., no more attention).
(d) Spontaneous Recovery: After extinction, reappearance of conditioned response.
2. Operant Conditioning: Learning associations between a response and its consequences,
Skinner, Voluntary, R first.
(a) Voluntary Response (pushing vending machine)  Getting candy (consequence).
(b) Repeat the association between Response and its and Consequence
(c) Learned to push bending machine to get candy.
Things need to know in the Operant conditioning.
(a) Reinforcements: Increase the likelihood of a response by adding a positive stimulus (positive
reinforcement: SR+) or removing a painful/aversive stimulus (negative reinforcement: SR-)
(i.e., most powerful and effective SR is interpersonal praises or comments).
(b) Primary (i.e., innately satisfying consequences such love, food, removing electrical shocks)
and secondary (i.e., learned consequences such as money, light in a Skinner box, money, praise)
reinforcers.
(c) Shaping: Operant procedure that is reinforcing responses close to a desired response.
That is, the gradual training of a complex response by reinforcing closer and closer
approximations.
(d) Learning curves are most sharp from a  d. Most steady from d  a
Learning can occur without reinforcement: Latent learning (i.e., paired rats in a mazecognitive
map), Vicarious learning (i.e., observational learning)
(e) Punishment: Decrease the likelihood of a response by withholding pleasant consequences or
administering unpleasant consequences.
Drawbacks of punishment:
-Simple suppression (may reappear when punishment is avoidable or no longer present),
-May increase aggressiveness (learn from punishers),
-May increase fear and generalized avoidance behavior,
-Do not show/guide positive behaviors (No, but try this is better).
Reinforcement Schedule:
(a) Fixed Ratio: Reinforce a response only after a specified number of responses (i.e., pay on a
piecework, frequent fliers program)
(b) Variable ratio: Reinforce a response after unpredictable number of responses (i.e., fishing,
gambling, door to door salesperson)
(c) Fixed interval: Reinforce a response only after a specified time has elapsed (weekly
paycheck, checking cookies in the oven).
(d) Variable Interval: Reinforce a response at unpredictable intervals (i.e., unpredictable pop
quiz).
*Potency (i.e., subjective interpretation/effectiveness of reinforcers or punishment).
*Self-Reinforcement (i.e., positive self-talk)
3. Behavior Modification
(a) Careful specification of a target behavior.
(b) Clearly defined consequences.
(c) A set of back-up consequences (i.e., if failed or ineffective).
(d) Consistent/objective administration
(e) Careful record keeping for target behaviors.