Chapter 5 Reinforcement Reinforcement Click on the picture of an example of the use of reinforcement on the show Big Bang Theory Thorndike s Law of Effect In the late 1800 s people believed that higher animals learned via reasoning Thorndike studied animal intelligence by systematically examining animal learning Presented animals with problems to solve Examined the change in behavior over many trials Watch this video to see Thorndike s Law of Effect in Action Learning and Behavior Sixth Edition by Paul Chance Copyright 2009 Wadsworth Publishing a division of Cengage Learning All rights reserved The Law of Effect Describes the relationship between the behavior and the consequences of that behavior History of Operant Learning Skinner built on Thorndike s work in 1930 s Developed a chamber that demonstrated how behavior is a function of its consequences Now referred to as Operant Learning Click image to see in action An introduction to Operant Conditioning Operant Learning Type of learning in which a change in behavior is dependent upon the consequences of behavior Behavior that is strengthened through the process of reinforcement Discrete Trial and Free Operant Procedures Discrete Trials Free Operant Types of Operant Learning Learning and Behavior Sixth Edition by Paul Chance Copyright 2009 Wadsworth Publishing a division of Cengage Learning All rights reserved Reinforcement An experience that increases the strength of a behavior due to its consequences stimulus or event Reinforcer Consequence stimulus or event that follows and strengthens operant behavior Reinforcement Two types of reinforcement Positive Reinforcement Negative Reinforcement Both positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement strengthen behavior make the behavior more likely to occur in the future Functional Definition of Reinforcement Response Consequence Outcome Child is more likely to cry in the stroller 1 The occurrence of a behavior 2 Results immediately in a consequence 3 The behavior is strengthened more likely to occur again in the future in similar circumstances Increases Effects of Reinforcement on Behavior Frequency Intensity Duration Quickness Depending on your target Positive Reinforcement Behavior is followed by the presentation of a reinforcer and the behavior is strengthened Negative Reinforcement Behavior is followed by the removal of or decrease in the intensity of an aversive stimulus and the behavior is strengthened Escape Both part of Negative Reinforcement Everyday Examples of Negative Reinforcement Positive and Negative Reinforcement in the Same Situation Nixon and Kissinger were sitting in the Oval Office of the White House discussing policy matters when King Timahoe Nixon s Irish setter came in and began chewing on the rug The president commanded him to stop King Timahoe kept right on chewing The president commanded again More chewing Finally Nixon opened his desk drawer took out a dog biscuit and gave it to King Timahoe Mr President said Kissinger you have taught that dog to chew the rug Try to identify the case of positive and the case of negative reinforcement in this example before going to the next slide Valariani R Pet journal That Kissinger dog Ladies home Journal January 1976 93 126 129 Noted by Michael C Roberts and David A Santogrossi Department of Psychological Sciences Purdue University Positive and Negative Reinforcement in the Same Situation Primary vs Secondary Reinforcers Clicker Training Conditioned Reinforcer Clicker training example In animal training and husbandry a clicker is frequently used to reinforce new behaviors The clicker is an conditioned reinforcer that is paired with food or play to establish it as a reinforcer It is sometimes referred to as a bridge or a marker since it immediately marks the behavior that is targeted Click on the picture to see a video Explore the website on your own to see some cool examples of training Conditioned Generalized Reinforcers Paired with a wide variety of other reinforcers Money Praise Tokens Natural vs Contrived Reinforcers Pavlov vs Skinner Shaping Reinforcement of successive approximations of a target behavior Using Shaping Using Shaping Define the target behavior What do you want the behavior to look like at the end of training Using Shaping Choose the shaping steps Each step is a closer approximation to the target behavior Steps are not too big Using Shaping Choose the reinforcer Must function as a reinforcer for the individual Consider the effects of satiation during shaping use conditioned reinforcers Using Shaping Reinforce each successive approximation Reinforce the first approximations until it occurs a number of times Stop reinforcing first approximation and start reinforcing next approximation until it occurs a number of times Continue until the target behavior occurs Using Shaping Move at the proper pace Too slow and it is hard to progress Too fast and the behavior can fall apart When is Shaping Used To develop novel behaviors A novel behavior is a behavior that the subject is not engaging in at that time Training a dolphin to jump on cue Shape into jumping through a hoop When is Shaping Used To develop new topographies of a behavior You want a behavior to look different The legs are too far apart After shaping the handstand looks perfect When is Shaping Used To develop new dimensions of a behavior Change time frequency latency etc of behavior Person smokes a cigarette every hour Not smoking is reinforced for increasing increments of time When is Shaping Used When instructions modeling and prompting are not applicable or not effective Subject can t understand or will not respond Baby in diapers After shaping baby uses potty When is Shaping Used Accidentally to develop problem behaviors Behavior was not wanted but shaped anyway Dog caries leash to owner gets to walk Other Examples Child tantrums Parents yelling nagging Showing off Dog begging for food Self Injurious Behavior Dog gradually keeps leash in mouth longer on walk Owner accidentally shaped up dog walking with leash in mouth Shaping Lever Pressing This movie is an example of shaping in an operant chamber click to view Click picture for video http www youtube com watch v 4TyYX5C8uuI Examples of Shaping Language development Rehabilitation O Neill Gardner 1983 Voice volume Jackson Wallace 1974 Self injurious behavior Schaeffer 1970 Animal training http youtu be kyku TLgOsc Good example of using shaping to train a dog Click picture for video Behavioral