Lecture 2 - Operant Conditioning: positive and negative reinforcement, extinction, punishment and schedules of reinforcement Flashcards
What are the ABCs of behaviour (three term contingency)
- Antecedent
- Behaviour
- Consequence
What is behaviour?
- What people do and say
- Measured objectively
- It is not labels, attitudes, feelings, etc
- Behaving aggressively can be labelled as angry
What are behaviour characteristics?
- What people do and say
- Can have one or more than one dimension
Can be observed, described and recorded - Can have an impact on the environment
- Is lawful
- May be overt (on show) or covert (hidden)
What does ‘antecedent’ mean?
- Something that comes before a behaviour that may trigger the behaviour
E.g., instructions from a parent, anxiety leading self-soothing behaviours, the weather
What is a consequence?
- A stimulus that follows a behaviour
- Affects the probability that behaviour will occur again under similar circumstances
What is reinforcement?
- Reinforcement after a behaviour increases the probability for future similar behaviour
- +ive and -ive reinforcement increase the likelihood of similar, future behaviour
What is punishment?
- Punishment after a behaviour decreases the probability of future similar behaviours
- +ive and -ive punishment both decrease the likelihood of similar future behaviours
What do positive and negative mean in OC?
Positive - adds something
Negative - removes something
Positive reinforcement
Something added and as a consequence increases behaviour
Negative reinforcement
Something removed and as a consequence increases behaviour
Positive punishment
Something added and as a consequence decreases behaviour
Negative punishment
Something removed and as a consequence decreases behaviour
What are the effects of consequences on behaviour?
- Two consequences increase the probability of behaviour - positive and negative reinforcement
- Two decrease the probability of behaviour - positive and negative punishment
What is a reinforcer?
- The entity which increase the behaviour
- A reinforcer is defined by its consequences
If the behaviour is not increase by a consequence then the reinforcement has not occurred and the consequence is not a reinforcer
(Avoid the term reward)
Examples of positive reinforcement in daily life
- Apps
- Shops
- Work
- School
- Pets
- Children
- Food
- Gaming
How can positive reinforcement cause superstitious behaviour?
- When reinforcement accidentally follows a behaviour that did not produce the reinforcement
-Sports players who equate putting on a certain pair of socks with winning a game - leading to the ‘lucky socks’ idea - First described by Skinner (1984) - provided reinforcement ‘at regular intervals with no reference whatsoever to the bird’s behaviour’
What is an escape contingency?
- In an escape contingency a response terminates a stimulus which is present
- E.g., when the sun is in your eyes you move your hand to cover your eyes and the glare is escaped
What is an avoidance contingency?
- A response prevents or postpones the presentation of a stimulus
- E.g., when someone you dislike is approaching you look away and walk away in order to avoid them
What are the guidelines on using reinforcement?
- Tell the reader about the programme at the outset
- Describe the desired behaviour
- Use lots of prise and physical contact
- Once consistent, gradually fade tangible reinforcers
- Look at natural reinforcers
