CP PSYCHOLOGY CHAPTER 2 Learning Theories Operant Conditioning (2Q2) Operant Conditioning: learning from the consequences of behavior (operates on the environment) BF Skinner is most closely associated with this system of rewards and punishments Operant Conditioning (2Q2) Reinforcement: an event or stimulus that increases the chance a recent behavior will be repeated Schedules of Reinforcement: The timing and frequency of reinforcement Continuous Schedule: reinforces every time the desired behavior occurs Skinner Box Operant Conditioning (2Q2) Partial Schedule: reinforcing behavior intermittently to make it more predictable and last longer Four Basic Partial Schedules: Two based on time intervals, two based on number of responses - Fixed-Ratio Schedule: reinforcement depends on a fixed quantity of responses - Variable-Ratio Schedule: number of responses required varies from one time to the next - Fixed-Interval Schedule: reinforces the first response after a fixed time has elapsed - Variable-Interval Schedule: the time at which reinforcement becomes available changes Operant Conditioning (2Q2) Effects of Different Reinforcement Schedules - Fixed-Ratio: Organism responds at high steady rate … Ex. Piecework type jobs - Variable-Ratio: Organism responds at very high rate. Hard to extinguish. Ex. Gamblers in Casino - Fixed-Interval: Slow, steady responding … gets faster near reinforcement time. Ex. Schoolwork - Variable-Interval: Slowest but steady responding … doesn’t vary much over time. Ex. E-mail Operant Conditioning (2Q2) Number of responses 1000 Fixed Ratio Variable Ratio Fixed Interval 750 Rapid responding near time for reinforcement 500 Variable Interval 250 Steady responding 0 10 20 30 40 50 Time (minutes) 60 70 80 Operant Conditioning (2Q2) • Primary Reinforcer: satisfies a basic, natural need, such as hunger, thirst etc. • Secondary Reinforcer: a conditioned reinforcer that was previously a neutral stimulus • Stimuli associated with rewards or punishments often become signals for particular behavior Operant Conditioning (2Q2) •Aversive Control: unpleasant events or consequences are used to influence behavior •Negative Reinforcement: Painful/unpleasant stimulus is removed or not applied in order to elicit behavior •Escape Conditioning: Correct behavior causes an unpleasant event to stop •Avoidance Conditioning: Correct behavior prevents unpleasant stimulus from being applied Operant Conditioning (2Q2) Operant Conditioning (2Q2) Punishment: Unpleasant consequence is applied in order to decrease or eliminate undesired behavior •Punishment can produce unwanted side effects such as rage, aggression and fear. Operant Conditioning (2Q2)