PSYC1000 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Classical Conditioning, Discrimination Learning, Operant Conditioning Chamber
Operant Conditioning:
The learning of a new association between behaviour and its consequences
It is learning thorough reinforcement (reward) and punishment
Behaviour (response) is voluntary
Behaviour is modified according to it’s consequences
Thorndike’s Law of Effect:
Studied cats placed in puzzle boxed.
Law of effect
- Behaviour is controlled by its consequences. Behaviours that results in reward will be more
likely in the future. Behaviours that results in punishment will be less likely to occur in the
future.
- Only explains how normal behaviours are modified
B. F. Skinner:
Elaborated on law of effect. Looked at process of training/teaching behaviour.
Skinner Box: the rat has free choice to respond at anytime in anyway
Res=response. Reinf = reinforcement.
(Res,reinf), (Res,reinf), (Res,reinf) increased probability of response
Reinforcement is an environmental stimulus that occurs after behaviour and increases the likelihood
that the behaviour will occur in the future.
Punishment is an environmental stimulus that occurs after behaviour and decreases the likelihood
that the behaviour will occur in the future
Individual differences – one person’s reinforcement could be another person’s punishment
Reinforcement:
Positive reinforcement is the addition or presentation of a pleasant stimulus after a behaviour makes
the behaviour more likely to occur in the future (+) eg. Food, money, praise, gold sticker
Negative reinforcement is the subtraction or removal of an aversive stimulus after a behaviour
which makes the behaviour more likely to occur in the future (-) eg. Headache – take pills, turning off
an alarm to remove the noise, putting on a seatbelt to remove the aversive seatbelt sound hence
more likely to wear seatbelt again in the future, discount at a shop
Magnitude of Reinforcer – it changes how influential the reinforcement process is. Generally, the
larger the reinforcer, the quicker the learning
find more resources at oneclass.com
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Document Summary
The learning of a new association between behaviour and its consequences. It is learning thorough reinforcement (reward) and punishment. Behaviours that results in reward will be more likely in the future. Behaviours that results in punishment will be less likely to occur in the future. Only explains how normal behaviours are modified: f. skinner: Skinner box: the rat has free choice to respond at anytime in anyway. Reinf = reinforcement. (res,reinf), (res,reinf), (res,reinf) increased probability of response. Reinforcement is an environmental stimulus that occurs after behaviour and increases the likelihood that the behaviour will occur in the future. Punishment is an environmental stimulus that occurs after behaviour and decreases the likelihood that the behaviour will occur in the future. Individual differences one person"s reinforcement could be another person"s punishment. Positive reinforcement is the addition or presentation of a pleasant stimulus after a behaviour makes the behaviour more likely to occur in the future (+) eg. food, money, praise, gold sticker.