Chapter 4
Reinforcement
Reinforcement:
Is a basic principle of behavior
Was established by Skinner in
laboratory research and over 40 years
of human research
Is a component of many behavior
modification procedures
Defining Reinforcement
1. The occurrence of a behavior
2. Results immediately in a consequence
3. The behavior is strengthened (more likely to
occur again in the future in similar
circumstances)
Present ----> Behavior is followed by a
consequence
Future ----> Behavior is more likely to occur
** Functional definition of reinforcement
Effects of Reinforcement on
Behavior
Increase in frequency
Increase in duration
Increase in intensity
Increase in quickness (decrease in
latency)
What is Operant Behavior?
Behavior that is strengthened through
the process of reinforcement behavior that is controlled by its
consequences
What is a Reinforcer?
The consequence (stimulus or event)
that follows operant behavior &
strengthens operant behavior
Two types of reinforcement
Positive reinforcement
Negative reinforcement
Both positive reinforcement and
negative reinforcement strengthen
behavior - make the behavior more
likely to occur in the future
What is Positive
Reinforcement?
Behavior is followed by the
presentation of a stimulus (a reinforcer)
and the behavior is strengthened
What is Negative
Reinforcement?
Behavior is followed by the removal of
a stimulus (a punisher / aversive
stimulus) and the behavior is
strengthened
Escape and avoidance
behaviors:
are involved in negative reinforcement
Escape - the behavior results in the
termination of (escape from) the
aversive stimulus and the behavior is
strengthened.
Avoidance - the behavior results in the
prevention of (avoidance of) the
aversive stimulus and the behavior is
strengthened.
Everyday Examples of Negative Reinforcement
Turn the channel during a bad TV show
Put on a coat on a cold day
Use an umbrella
Slap a mosquito
Turn up the heat
Roll up the window when it rains
Wear earplugs on a noisy job
Turn down the lights, TV, stereo
Turn on the exhaust fan
Loosen a tight collar or tie
Turn off the alarm buzzer
Give in to a screaming kid
Tell someone to be quiet in a movie
Positive and Negative
Reinforcement in the Same Situation
Tantrum in a grocery store
Child’s tantrum behavior is
strengthened by getting candy from a
parent (positive reinforcement)
Parent’s behavior of giving candy to
child is strengthened by termination of
the tantrum (negative reinforcement)
Unconditioned Reinforcers
Biologically determined - survival
value for the individual
Food, water, human contact (warmth),
oxygen, sexual contact, escape from
cold, heat, pain, extreme levels of
stimulation
Conditioned Reinforcers
A previously neutral stimulus
- repeatedly paired with an established
reinforcer (an unconditioned or conditioned
reinforcer)
- will function as a reinforcer
Examples of Conditioned Reinforcers
Sight, sound, and scent of parents
Parents’ smile, tone of voice, attention, praise
Types of toys, TV shows, music, clothes, activities
Grades, positive evaluations
Accomplishments (social, physical)
Money
Others
Conditioned Generalized
Reinforcers
Paired with a wide variety of other
reinforcers
Money, praise, tokens
Factors that Influence
Reinforcement
Immediacy
Consistency (contingency)
Establishing operations
Individual differences
Intensity of the stimulus
Schedules of Reinforcement
Specifies which responses will be
followed by the reinforcer
Continuous reinforcement - Each
response is followed by the reinforcer
Intermittent reinforcement - Not every
response is followed by a reinforcer
Fixed Ratio Schedules
Reinforcer after X number of responses
- the number does not change
Produces high rate / post reinforcement
pause
Examples: piece rate pay
classroom uses
Variable Ratio Schedules
Reinforcer after X number of responses
on the average
Produces high rate / no postreinforcement pause
Examples: work and classroom uses
slot machine, phone solicitors
Fixed Interval Schedules
Reinforcer for the first response after X
amount of time - time interval does not
change
Produces low rate of responding that
increases at the end of the interval
Rarely used in behavior modification
Examples: mail delivery every 2 hours
hourly supervisor checks on a worker
Variable Interval Schedules
Reinforcer for the first response after X
amount of time on the average
Produces low but steady rate of
behavior
Rarely used in behavior modification
Examples: unpredictable supervisor
checks, checking for phone or e-mail
messages
Concurrent Schedules of
Reinforcement
Schedules of reinforcement that exist at the
same time for two or more different
behaviors
Concurrent operants
Factors influencing choice of concurrent
operants
- schedule of reinforcement
- magnitude of reinforcement
- immediacy of reinforcement
- response effort