Skinner

• Operant conditioning is the belief that behaviour is shaped and maintained by consequences - applies to voluntary responses only
• Reinforcement 


  Consequence that increases likelihood of a particular behaviour being repeated (strengthens behaviour)
• Punishment


  Consequence that decreases likelihood of a particular behaviour being repeated (weakens behaviour)
• Reward in Skinner box 


  Rat learned behaviour of pushing lever because of reward (food) being presented
• Punishment in Skinner box


  Rat received electric shock from pressing lever which decreased the behaviour
• Positive reinforcement - add a reward
• Negative reinforcement - remove threat of punishment
• Positive punishment - add a punishment
• Negative punishment - take away something as the punishment
• Schedules of reinforcement


  Continuous reinforcement - behaviour is reinforced every time it occurs

  Partial reinforcement - behaviour is reinforced some of the time (more resistant to extinction)
• Fixed ratio schedule 


  Reinforcement after a fixed amount of times that a behaviour is displayed
• Fixed interval schedule 


  Reinforcement after a fixed amount of time passes of a behaviour being present
• Variable ratio schedule 


  Reinforcement after a varying amount of times a behaviour is presented
• Variable interval schedule 


  Reinforcement after a varying amount of time of a behaviour occurring