operant conditioning

• Operant conditioning


  A type of learning where behaviour is acquired + maintained based on its consequences
• Reinforcement


  • Increases likelihood of observed behaviour being repeated
• Punishment


  • Decreases likelihood of observed behaviour being repeated
• Positive reinforcement


  Carrying out a behaviour to receive a reward
• Negative reinforcement


  Carrying out a behaviour to avoid negative consequences
• Behaviour are repeated when they lead to positive consequences (form of reinforcement such as rewards)
• Positive consequence: behaviour increases the chances of doing it again
• Negative consequence: avoid doing behaviour
• Primary reinforcer


  An innately reinforcing stimulus, often satisfies a biological need
• Secondary/Conditioned reinforcer


  A stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer
• Shaping


  Operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior towards desired target behavior through successive approximations
• Positive punishment


  A negative stimulus is added in order to prevent a behaviour
• Negative punishment


  Taking away something positive as a punishment
• Punished behavior is suppressed, not forgotten
• Punishment does not teach appropriate behavior
• Punishment causes unwanted behaviors to reappear in its absence
• Punishment justifies pain to others
• Physical punishment may increase aggressiveness by modeling aggression as a way to cope with problems
• Punishment is sometimes accompanied by unseen benefits (learn that it is a way to get attention)
• Continuous reinforcement


  An animal/human is positively reinforced every time a specific behaviour occurs
• Continuous reinforcement


  • Response rate is SLOW, extinction rate is FAST
• Fixed ratio reinforcement


  Behaviour is reinforced only after behaviour occurs a specified number of times
• Fixed ratio reinforcement


  • Response rate is FAST, extinction rate is MEDIUM
• Fixed interval reinforcement


  One reinforcement is given after a fixed time interval providing at least one correct response has been made
• Fixed interval reinforcement


  • Response rate is MEDIUM, extinction rate is MEDIUM
• Variable ratio reinforcement


  Behaviour is reinforced after an unpredictable number of times
• Variable ratio reinforcement


  • Response rate is FAST, extinction rate is SLOW
• Variable interval reinforcement


  Providing one correct response has been made, reinforcement is given after an unpredictable amount of time has passed
• Variable interval reinforcement


  • Response rate is FAST, extinction rate is SLOW
• Fixed-ratio: Reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses, e.g. Buy 10 coffees, get one free
• Variable-ratio: Reinforces response after an unpredictable number of responses, e.g. Slot machines
• Fixed-interval: Reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed, e.g. Weekly pay checks
• Variable-interval: Reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals, e.g. Pop quizzes