Download A.P. Psychology 6 (C) - Operant Conditioning

Unit 6 (C):
Operant Conditioning
Mr. McCormick
A.P. Psychology
Do-Now:
(Discussion)
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Describe the following phenomena of Classical
Conditioning:
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Generalization
Discrimination
Extinction
Spontaneous Recovery
Learned Helplessness
What is Operant Conditioning and how does it
differ from Classical Conditioning?
Classical Vs. Operant Conditioning
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Classical Conditioning
forms associations between
stimuli (CS and US)
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Respondent Behavior
Operant conditioning
forms an association
between behaviors and
the resulting events.
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Operant Behavior
Operant Conditioning
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Operant Conditioning:
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A type of learning in which behavior is strengthened
if followed by a reinforcer or diminished by a
punisher
Skinner’s Experiments
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B.F. Skinner’s experiments extend Edward
Thorndike’s thinking, especially his law of
effect. This law states that rewarded behavior is
likely to occur again.
Operant Chamber
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Using Thorndike's law of effect as a starting
point, Skinner developed the operant chamber,
or the “Skinner Box,” to study operant
conditioning.
Operant Chamber
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The Operant Chamber, or
“Skinner Box,” comes
with a bar or key that an
animal manipulates to
obtain a reinforcer like
food or water.
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The bar or key is connected
to devices that record the
animal’s response.
Shaping
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Shaping is the operant conditioning procedure in
which reinforcers guide behavior towards the desired
target behavior through successive approximations.
A rat shaped to sniff mines. A manatee shaped to
discriminate objects of different shapes, colors and sizes.
Types of Reinforcers
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Reinforcer:
Any event that strengthens (reinforces) the behavior it
follows
 A reinforcement is a reward
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Types of Reinforcers
Types of Reinforcers
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Primary Reinforcer:
An innately reinforcing stimulus
 Often satisfies a biological need
 E.g. Pizza
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Secondary/Conditioned Reinforcer:
A stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through
its association with a primary reinforcer
 E.g. Money
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Types of Reinforcers
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If a teacher wanted to reinforce students
arriving to class on time, how could he or she
employ the following types of reinforcers:
 Positive/Primary
 Positive/Secondary
 Negative/Primary
 Negative/Secondary
Schedules of Reinforcement
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Terms to consider:
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Fixed:
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Variable:
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Changeable/Unpredictable
Ratio:
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Set/Pre-determined
Number of times
Interval:
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Amount of time intervals
Schedules of Reinforcement
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Fixed-Ratio:
Reinforces a response only after a specified number of
responses
 E.g. Buy 10 coffees, get one free
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Variable-Ratio:
Reinforces response after an unpredictable number of
responses
 E.g. Slot machines
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Schedules of Reinforcement
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Fixed-Interval:
Reinforces a response only after a specified time has
elapsed
 E.g. Weekly pay checks
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Variable-Interval:
Reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals
 E.g. Pop quizzes
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Schedules of Reinforcement
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Provide an example of each of the following
schedules of reinforcement:
Fixed-Ratio
 Variable-Ratio
 Fixed-Interval
 Variable-Interval
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Which one do you think is least effective?
Which one do you think is most effective?
Which one do you think is most addictive?
Schedules of Reinforcement
Punishment
Punishment
 Do
you feel that punishment is
effective, and under what types of
circumstances?
 If
not, what other alternatives
do you support?
Punishment
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Effects of Punishment on Behavior:
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Punished behavior is suppressed, not forgotten
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Punishment does not teach appropriate behavior
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Punishment causes unwanted behaviors to reappear
in its absence
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Punishment can teach fear
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Justifies pain to others
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Physical punishment may increase aggressiveness by
modeling aggression as a way to cope with problems
Review
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What is Operant Conditioning?
Describe the following types of reinforcement:
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Describe the following schedules of reinforcement:
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Positive
Negative
Primary
Secondary (Conditioned)
Fixed-Ratio
Variable-Ratio
Fixed-Interval
Variable-Interval
What are some ways that punishment affects behavior?
Homework
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Research Study # 10: “Little Emotional Albert” (Pgs. 72-78)
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Unit 6 Quiz: “Learning”
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Unit 6 FRQ
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Unit 6 Test: “Learning”
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Chapter 8 Outline: “Memory”