HPS111 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Operant Conditioning Chamber, Reinforcement, Classical Conditioning
WEEK 7
Reinforcement – an outcome (reinforcer) which strengthens and increases the likelihood of a particular
response occurring over time. This can mean applying a positive stimulus (reward) or removing a negative
stimulus (taking away a bad/unpleasant consequence).
Strengthen – an increase in the frequency of a response.
Reinforcer – any stimulus which brings about learning and increases the probability of a particular response
occurring over time. E.g. the food pellets in Skinner’s experiment.
Primary reinforcer – a stimulus which satisfies an unlearned
biological need, where obtaining it produces comfort (e.g. food) and/or end discomfort (e.g. warmth).
Secondary reinforcer – becomes a reinforcer through a learned association with a primary reinforcer. E.g.
money, as it is associated with the ability to buy food or shelter.
Punishment – occurs when a response is weakened by outcomes that follow it.
oPunisher – stimulus which decreases a particular behaviour/response. E.g. pressing the lever in the Skinner
box delivers an electric shock rather than food and so the rats eventually stops pressing it. The electric
shock is a punisher.
oAversive/Positive punishment – the delivery of an unpleasant stimulus following a response. E.g. smacking
your dog because it bit you.
oResponse-cost/Negative punishment – removal of a pleasant stimulus following a response. E.g. not
allowed to watch a movie as promised because you did not finish your HW.
Contingency – the relation between a certain behaviour and its consequences.
oSkinner’s analysis of operant behaviour involves three kinds of events that form a three-part contingency:
1. Antecedents – stimuli that are present before a behaviour occurs.
2. Behaviours – that the organism emits (displays).
3. Consequences – that follow the behaviours. e.g. IF antecedent stimuli are present (if I say ‘sit’), AND
behaviour is emitted (and my dog sits), THEN consequences will occur (then the dog will receive a treat).
•The difference between classical conditioning and operant conditioning:
Classical conditioning focuses on ELICITED behaviours, whereas, operant conditioning focuses on EMITTED
behaviours.
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Document Summary
Reinforcement an outcome (reinforcer) which strengthens and increases the likelihood of a particular response occurring over time. This can mean applying a positive stimulus (reward) or removing a negative stimulus (taking away a bad/unpleasant consequence). Strengthen an increase in the frequency of a response. Reinforcer any stimulus which brings about learning and increases the probability of a particular response occurring over time. Primary reinforcer a stimulus which satisfies an unlearned biological need, where obtaining it produces comfort (e. g. food) and/or end discomfort (e. g. biological need, where obtaining it produces comfort (e. g. food) and/or end discomfort (e. g. warmth). Secondary reinforcer becomes a reinforcer through a learned association with a primary reinforcer. E. g. money, as it is associated with the ability to buy food or shelter. Punishment occurs when a response is weakened by outcomes that follow it: punisher stimulus which decreases a particular behaviour/response.
