PSY402 Theories of LearningMidterm ResultsAppetitive ConditioningWhat is a Reinforcer?Instrumental vs OperantSkinner’s Operant ChamberTypes of ReinforcersTypes of Reinforcers (Cont.)ShapingSteps in Shaping a Bar PressShaping Social BehaviorPSY402Theories of LearningChapter 4 – Appetitive ConditioningMidterm ResultsAppetitive ConditioningAppetitive – something desirable for survival that results in approach behavior.Aversive – something undesirable for survival that results in avoidance or escape behavior.Neuroscientists believe there are underlying appetitive and aversive motivational systems in the brain.What is a Reinforcer?S-R learningWhat is a contingency?Thorndike’s idea of reward.B.F. SkinnerReinforcer – any response that increases the likelihood of a behavior.Something reinforcing to one person may not be to another.Instrumental vs OperantBoth terms refer to voluntary behavior and S-R learning.Instrumental conditioning – the environment limits opportunities for reward.Operant conditioning – no limit on the amount of reinforcement that can be earned through behavior.Skinner’s Operant ChamberSome behavior that can be done to obtain reward.Rate measured by experimenter.A dispenser of food or liquid used as a reinforcer (reward).Tones or lights to signal availability of opportunity for reward.Used in discrimination and generalization studies.Types of ReinforcersPrimary – innate reinforcing properties.Example: something inherently pleasant such as food.Secondary – develops reinforcing properties through association with a primary reinforcer.Example – money.Acquired through classical conditioningTypes of Reinforcers (Cont.)Positive – an event added to the environment that increases likelihood of a behavior.Example: food or money.Negative – termination of an aversive (unpleasant) event.Example: headache goes away when you take aspirin.ShapingShaping – Speeds up training. Also called successive approximation procedureA desired behavior may occur infrequently and thus have little chance to be reinforced.Behaviors similar to the desired behavior are rewarded, gradually increasing the desired behavior.Steps in Shaping a Bar PressStep 1 – reinforce eating from the dispenser.Step 2 – reinforce for moving away from the dispenser (toward bar).Step 3 – reinforce for moving toward the bar.Step 4 – reinforce for pressing the bar.Shaping Social BehaviorParents typically reinforce only the final response, not successive approximations.Children may become frustrated and give up before they can obtain reward.Shaping techniques – start with simple behaviors a child can perform.Gradually introduce complex
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