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Operant ConditioningThe second great learning theory in modern
psychology!
People and animals learn how to do certain things and not others because of the consequences of what they do.
“Everything we do and are is determined by our history of rewards and punishments.” -B.F. Skinner
To what extent do you agree?
The main idea of operant conditioning:
The Operant Chamber (Or Skinner Box)
http://www.twine.com/item/12flkpgdj-fj/youtube-bf-skinner-on-reinforcement-general-psychology
Reinforcement is:
Types of Reinforcers
Primary reinforcers:
Secondary reinforcers:
Positive reinforcers: Negative reinforcers:
Positive vs. negative
Fixed ratio schedule:Variable-ratio schedule:
Ratio schedules of reinforcement
Fixed interval schedule:
Variable interval schedule:
Interval schedules of reinforcement
Teaching complex behaviors to animals by reinforcing small steps in the right direction
“Successive approximations” Skinner taught pigeons to walk in a figure 8, play
ping-pong, etc. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQNHqENd6ls
Skinner’s Original Experiments: Shaping
At school Skinner dreamed of a future where teaching
machines and textbooks shaped learning in small steps, immediately reinforcing correct responses
https://www.khanacademy.org/? Sports
Reinforce small successes and gradually increase the challenge
Other uses of Skinner’s theory
At work Reward specific, achievable behaviors, not vaguely
defined “merit” Reinforcement should be immediate
At home Parents who give in to protests or defiance reinforce
whining and arguing Always notice kids doing something right and
commend them for it
Other applications (cont.)
Reinforcement increases a behavior; punishment diminishes it.
Punishment tells you what not to do; reinforcement tells you what to do.
Why does punishment often fail and/or create more problems?
A word about punishment
The downside of Skinner: The Overjustification Effect
“If I have to be bribed into doing this, it must not be worth doing for its own sake.”
Extrinsic rewards can damage intrinsic motivation
Read this: http://www.psychwiki.com/wik
i/The_Overjustification_Effect